Objective: To investigate the effects of usnic acid(UA) on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and autophagy of lung cancer cells A549 and NCI-H358. Methods: The CCK-8 method was used to detect the inhibitory effect of UA on two kinds of lung cancer cells proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle arrest effect of UA on two types of lung cancer cells. The fluorescence amount of UA-induced reactive oxygen species(ROS) in two kinds of lung cancer cells were detected by DCFH-DA probe assay and flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the expression of apoptosis related proteins Bax, Caspase-3, Cleaved-Caspase-3, and autophagy related proteins LC3-Ⅰ and LC3-Ⅱ in two types of lung cancer cells after treatment with UA and UA+ROS inhibition. Results: (1) Usnic acid reduced the survival rates of two types of cells and had a stronger ability to inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells than NCI-H358 cells.(2) Usnic acid blocked A549 cells in the G0/G1phase, while NCI-H358 cells in the G2/M and S phases.(3) Usnic acid induced an increase in ROS content in two types of cells. Compared to A549, NCI-H358 cells showed a greater increase in ROS, and the ROS inhibitor reduced the intracellular ROS increase induced by UA.(4) Usnic acid induced high expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3 and increased the ratio of autophagy-related proteins LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ in both lung adenocarcinoma cells, and its pro-apoptotic and autophagic effects were stronger in A549 than in NCI-H358. After ROS inhibition, the expression levels of Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3 and the LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio of both lung adenocarcinoma cells decreased, and the decrease was greater in NCI-H358 cells. Conclusion Usnic acid inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer A549 and NCI-H358 cells, induces cell cycle arrest, and induces apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells. The inhibitory and killing effect of UA on A549 cells is stronger than that on NCI-H358 cells. In this case, the induced cell ROS are involved in the action of UA in two types of lung cancer cells. In contrast to A549 cells,ROS might play a more significant role in mediating the apoptosis and autophagy induced by usnic acid in NCI-H358 cells.

Background and Aims:Medullary thyroid carcinoma(MTC)is an aggressive malignancy that is frequently associated with cervical lymph node metastasis,significantly affecting patient prognosis.However,the risk factors for lateral cervical lymph node metastasis(LLNM)in MTC remain inconclusive.This study aims to identify the risk factors associated with LLNM in MTC patients,in order to inform individualized surgical decision-making.Methods:The clinicopathologic data of 242 patients with MTC who underwent surgical treatment at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from 2011 to 2019 were retrospectively collected.The relationships between preoperative tumor markers,including calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),and LLNM were evaluated.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for LLNM.Results:Preoperative calcitonin level was significantly associated with tumor diameter,the number of lymph node metastases,and the extent of lymph node involvement,while preoperative CEA level was significantly associated with tumor diameter(all P<0.05).The area under the ROC curve for preoperative calcitonin in diagnosing LLNM was 0.750(P=0.000),with an optimal cutoff value of 266.00 ng/L(sensitivity 0.854,specificity 0.577).The diagnostic value of preoperative CEA for LLNM was limited.Univariate analysis showed that sex,extracapsular extension,T stage,central lymph node metastasis(CLNM),bilateral lesions,preoperative calcitonin,tumor diameter,and multifocality were significantly associated with LLNM in MTC patients(all P<0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that CLNM(OR=17.645,95%CI=7.728-40.290)and preoperative calcitonin≥266.00 ng/L(OR=7.832,95%CI=3.132-19.582)were independent risk factors for LLNM.Conclusion:CLNM and elevated preoperative calcitonin level are closely associated with LLNM in patients with MTC.The combination of these two indicators may help identify high-risk patients for LLNM,thereby and promoting individualized and precise treatment strategies for MTC.

Objective To explore the efficacy of a model combining clinicopathological characteristics and multiparametric MRI features for predicting BRCA-mutated breast cancer(BC).Methods A total of 256 BC patients were retrospectively selected and divided into BRCA mutation group(116 cases)and BRCA wild group(140 cases)based on the BRCA results.Chi-square tests or independ-ent sample t-tests were used to compare the differences in clinicopathological characteristics and multiparametric MRI features between the BRCA mutation group and the wild group.Risk factors for BRCA-mutated BC were identified through univariate and multivariate logistic regression ananlyses,and a combined predictive model was constructed.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to ana-lyze the diagnostic efficacy of the model.Results There were statistically significant differences in T stage,human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER-2),Ki-67,non-mass enhancement,enhancement pattern,time-signal intensity curve(TIC)type,and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)values between the BRCA mutation group and the wild group.Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that T stage,HER-2,Ki-67,non-mass enhancement,enhancement pattern,TIC type,and ADC values were risk factors for BRCA-mutated BC(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that T stage,HER-2,Ki-67,enhancement pattern,and TIC type were independent risk factors for BRCA-mutated BC(P<0.05).The combined model incorporating T stage,HER-2,Ki-67,enhancement pattern,and TIC type had the best diagnostic efficacy in predicting BRCA-mutated BC,with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.751.Conclusion The combined model integrating T stage,HER-2,Ki-67,enhancement pattern,and TIC type has good efficacy in predicting BRCA-mutated BC.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of conventional ultrasound combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for detecting cervical lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).Methods:This retrospective case control study included 259 patients (249 males and 10 females,aged 40-88 years with a median age of 63 years) who were pathologically diagnosed with HNSCC at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from April 2022 to August 2024. A total of 259 lymph nodes were assessed(78 pathologically positive nodes and 181 pathologically negative ones). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to compare the diagnostic efficacies of conventional ultrasound combined with CEUS and CT, MRI, or conventional ultrasound for cervical lymph node metastasis. Patients were randomly assigned to a training group ( n=208) and a validation group ( n=51) (8∶2). Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression were used to analyze the independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis prediction. A nomogram model was constructed based on independent risk factors. The model predictive efficacy was assessed by ROC curve, and model′s fit was evaluated by Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Results:The area under the curve (AUC) for conventional ultrasound combined with CEUS in predicting cervical lymph node metastasis in HNSCC was 0.923 (95% CI: 0.880-0.965), which was significantly higher than those for enhanced CT, cervical enhanced MRI, and conventional ultrasound [AUC were 0.820 (95% CI: 0.753-0.886), 0.802 (95% CI: 0.737-0.866), and0.836 (95% CI: 0.774-0.899), respectively].There were no statistically significant differences in clinical data between the two groups (all P>0.05). Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that, among contrast-enhanced ultrasound features, the centripetal perfusion pattern, irregular perfusion defect type, and uneven distribution of contrast agent were significantly associated with cervical lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). Among conventional ultrasound features, L/S ratio≤1.5, heterogeneous internal echoes, uneven cortex thickening, blurred corticomedullary boundary, loss of lymphatic gate structure, and peripheral or mixed type on color Doppler flow imaging were significantly associated with cervical lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that the centripetal perfusion pattern, heterogeneous internal echoes, and uneven cortical thickening were independent risk factors for cervical lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). A nomogram model was constructed based on the above independent risk factors, and offered an AUC of 0.933 (95% CI:0.890-0.976) in the training group, which was significantly higher than that for enhanced CT, enhanced MRI, conventional ultrasound, and conventional ultrasound combined with CEUS [AUC were 0.818 (95% CI:0.747-0.890), 0.807 (95% CI:0.739-0.875), 0.842 (95% CI: 0.777-0.908), and 0.921 (95% CI:0.876-0.967), respectively]. In the validation group, the AUC was 0.866 (95% CI:0.703-1.000), which was higher than that for cervical enhanced CT, enhanced MRI, and conventional ultrasound [AUC were 0.820 (95% CI:0.613-1.000), 0.711 (95% CI:0.478-0.943), and 0.748 (95% CI:0.515-0.982), respectively]. Conclusion:The combination of conventional ultrasound and CEUS has significant clinical application value in predicting cervical lymph node metastasis in HNSCC.

Objective:To understand the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome in HIV-infected pregnant women and influencing factors in China and provide reference for the improvement of the health status of HIV-infected pregnant women and their newborns.Methods:Based on a mother-child cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women and children (PMTCT-MC-2005) established in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Yunnan Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, this study enrolled pregnant women with or without HIV infection as study subjects from January 2017 to June 2023, a total of 1 646 pregnant women (558 HIV-infected and 1 088 HIV-uninfected) were included, and 34 cases with missing data were excluded. The χ2 test was used to analyze the difference in the incidence adverse pregnancy outcome between two groups, and used logistic regression model to identify the influencing factors of adverse pregnancy outcome in HIV-infected pregnant women. Results:A total of 1 612 pregnant women were included in the study, in whom 541 were infected with HIV and 1 071 were not infected with HIV. The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome was 18.8% (303/1 612), the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome was 33.1% (179/541) in the HIV-infected pregnant women and 11.6% (124/1 071) in the pregnant women without HIV infection. The results of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the influencing factors of adverse pregnancy outcome were age <35 years at delivery (a OR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.43-0.95) compared with the age ≥35 years and the duration of antiviral treatment over 10 years (a OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.23-0.79) compared with less than one year. Conclusions:The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome in HIV-infected pregnant women was high in some regions of China during 2017-2023. It is necessary for HIV-infected women to get pregnancy at appropriate time based on antiretroviral treatment effect and strengthen self-care to reduce the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome.

Objective To predict the risk of coronary atherosclerosis using cerebral small vessel disease and cerebral artery stenosis in order to assist early identification of coronary artery disease(CHD).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 130 patients(aged≥65 years)who underwent cerebral MRI,magnetic resonance angiography(MRA),and coronary computed tomo-graphy angiography in the Chinese PLA General Hospital between January 2019 and December 2024.Based on coronary computed tomography angiography results,the patients were categorized into an asymptomatic CHD group(56 cases)and a non-CHD group(74 cases).Cerebral MRI and MRA were used to assess white matter hyperintensity,enlarged perivascular spaces,lacunar infarcts,cerebral microbleeds(CMB)scores,total score of cerebral small vessel disease and degree of cerebral artery stenosis.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the clinical and radiological indicators related to CHD.Then a predictive model was constructed,and then its performance in early predicting CHD was evaluated.Results Blood glucose,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,CMB score≥ 1,and≥50％stenosis of the posterior cerebral artery were independent risk factors for CHD(P＜0.05).The combined predictive model integrating clinical indicators,cerebral small vessel disease,and cerebral artery stenosis demonstrated the best performance,with an AUC value of 0.867(95％CI:0.807-0.927),outperforming the clinical model and the clinical-cerebral small vessel disease model.Conclusion cerebral small vessel dis-ease and cerebral artery stenosis are closely related to coronary atherosclerosis.The predictive model integrating clinical features and cerebrovascular disease imaging markers provides impor-tant reference for early screening of CHD.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of drug resistance genes of carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli (CPECO) in Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 2021 to 2023, providing data support and theoretical basis for controlling nosocomial infections of CPECO.Methods:Using a cross-sectional study, 30 carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CRECO) strains confirmed by VITEK-2 Compact identification and drug sensitivity test in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory of Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 2021 to 2023 were tested, using carbapenemase inhibitor enhancement test to conduct preliminary screening of carbapenemases, and colloidal gold immunochromatography and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to determine the phenotypes and genotypes of common carbapenemases ( blaKPC, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaIMP, blaOXA) respectively, and the genotypes ( blaSHV, blaTEM, blaCTX) of common extended Spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) were confirmed using PCR. The PCR amplification products of carbapenemase and ESBL positive strains were Sanger-sequenced, and the sequencing products were compared on the Blast website to determine the exact carbapenemase and ESBL genotypes. Sequence typing (ST) was performed on CPECO using the Achtman multi-locus sequence typing scheme to determine the cloning relationship between different strains. Results:A total of 21 CPECO strains were screened. Drug sensitivity test results showed that CPECO strains showed widespread drug resistance, with the resistance rate to monocyclic (aztreonam) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole being over 60%(16/21, 14/21), and the resistance rate to other antibacterial drugs being 100%. Only the sensitivity to aminoglycosides and fosfomycin remained relatively high, and no strains resistant to tigecycline and colistin were found. Colloidal gold immunochromatography detected 18 blaNDM types, 2 blaKPC types, and 1 blaIMP type. Sequencing of drug resistance gene PCR products classified 17 blaNDM-5 strains, 1 blaNDM-4 strain, 2 blaKPC-2 strain, and 1 blaIMP-4 strain, which were completely consistent with the results of screening test and colloidal gold immunochromatography. ESBL resistance gene testing showed that the detection rate of blaTEM was 42.9%(9/21), blaCTX-M was 33.3%(7/21), and blaSHV was 4.8%(1/21). The rate of blaNDM producing CPECO carrying both ESBL resistance genes was 27.8%(5/18). The MLST typing results revealed 11 sequence types (STs), including one ST155 clonal complex and nine singleton STs. Among these, there were seven strains of ST167, five strains of ST410, and one strain each of ST58, ST68, ST69, ST93, ST131, ST155, ST648, ST1114, and ST3268. Conclusion:The main resistance mechanism identified in this study for CPECO was the production of blaNDM-5 carbapenemase, with a high proportion of strains also carrying blaTEM-1D and/or blaCTX-M-15 ESBLs. MLST typing found that the epidemic strain of CPECO showed certain polymorphism, but there were clonal transmission of multiple clonal complexes between ST167 and ST410.

Thoracolumbar spine fracture often leads to severe pain, functional impairments, and neurological deficits, for which open reduction and internal fixation can effectively restore the spinal structural stability. Open decompression and reduction with internal fixation can help relieve spinal cord compression and improve spinal function in cases of concomitant cord injury. Although spinal stability can be restored through surgery, patients often face chronic pain and functional impairments postoperatively. A postoperative rehabilitation program is critical in optimizing therapeutic outcomes, reducing complications, and minimizing the risk of secondary injuries. However, current rehabilitation methods, such as physical therapy, functional training, and pain management, are confronted with problems in clinical practice, including significant variation in efficacy, poor patient adherence, and prolonged rehabilitation period. There is an urgent need for a unified rehabilitation strategy to address these problems. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Physicians Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and the Spine Health Professional Committee of the Chinese Human Health Technology Promotion Association organized experts from relevant fields to formulate Evidence-based guidelines for rehabilitation treatment after internal fixation of thoracolumbar spine fracture in adults ( version 2025) by integrating evidences from clinical researches and advanced rehabilitation concepts at home and abroad. A total number of 14 recommendations concerning the rehabilitation treatment with multimodal analgesia, psychological intervention, deep vein thrombosis prevention, core muscle and extremity exercise, appropriate use of braces, early weight-bearing, device-aided rehabilitation exercise, neuroregulatory therapy, rehabilitation team were put forward, aiming to standardize the post-operative rehabilitation process following internal fixation, promote the functional recovery, and enhance patients′ quality of life.

Acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fracture (ASOTLF) can lead to chronic low back pain, kyphosis deformity, pulmonary dysfunction, loss of mobility, and even life-threatening complications. Vertebral augmentation is currently the mainstream treatment method for this condition. In 2019, the Editorial Board of Chinese Journal of Trauma and the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedic Surgeons Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association collaboratively led the development of Clinical guideline for vertebral augmentation for acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures. Six years later, with advances in clinical diagnosis and treatment techniques as well as accumulating evidence in related fields, the 2019 guideline requires updating. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedic Surgeons Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, the Spinal Health Professional Committee of China Human Health Science and Technology Promotion Association, and the Minimally Invasive Orthopedics Professional Committee of Shaanxi Medical Doctor Association have organized experts in the field to develop the Clinical guideline for vertebral augmentation of acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025) , based on the latest evidence-based medical researches. This guideline incorporates 3 recommendations retained from the 2019 version with updated strength of evidence, along with 12 new recommendations. It provides recommendations from six aspects of diagnosis, pain management, treatment option selection, prevention of postoperative complications, anti-osteoporosis therapy, and postoperative rehabilitation, aiming to provide a reference for standard treatment of vertebral augmentation for ASOTLF in hospitals at all levels.

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of bronchial arterial chemoembolization(BACE)combined with tislelizumab for advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods A total of 30 patients in First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ NSCLC from December 2021 to August 2022 were enrolled in this study.All the patients received BACE,which was followed by 200 mg tislelizumab once every 3 weeks until the disease progressed,or the patient developed intolerable adverse effects,or the investigator decided to terminate this drug treatment.The primary study endpoint was progression-free survival(PFS),and the secondary study endpoints included overall survival(OS),objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),safety,and quality of life(QoL).Results The median follow-up time was 12 months(range of 1.5-12 months),the median PFS was 10.5 months(95％CI:7.8-13.2 months),and the median OS was not available.The 3-month,6-month,and 12-month ORRs were 63.3％(95％CI:43.9％-80.1％),56.7％(95％CI:37.4％-74.5％),and 30.4％(95％CI:13.2％-52.9％)respectively.The 3-month,6-month,and 12-month DCRs were 80％(95％CI:61.4％-92.3％),76.7％(95％CI:57.7％-90.1％),and 47.8％(95％CI:26.8％-69.4％)respectively.The expression ratio of PD-L1 ≥50％(HR=0.29,P=0.039),tumor having a single feeding artery(HR=0.35,P=0.028),and completion of＞10 cycles of tislelizumab therapy(HR=0.42,P=0.064)were the protective factors for PFS.No ≥grade Ⅲ treatment-related adverse events(TRAEs)occurred.The common below grade Ⅱ TRAEs were nausea,fever,and cough.After one cycle of treatment,the patient's QoL,including overall quality of life,physical functioning,and emotional functioning,was significantly improved.Conclusion For the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC,BACE plus tislelizumab has satisfactory clinical efficacy and safety.