1.Impact of number of positive regional lymph nodes in N1 stage on the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer: A propensity score matching study
Dandan LIU ; Jiachen WANG ; Lidan CHANG ; Jia CHEN ; Ranran KONG ; Shiyuan LIU ; Minxia ZHU ; Jiantao JIANG ; Shaomin LI ; Zhengshui XU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):63-71
Objective To explore the impact of number of positive regional lymph nodes (nPRLN) in N1 stage on the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods Patients with TxN1M0 stage NSCLC who underwent lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection from 2010 to 2015 were screened from SEER database (17 Regs, 2022nov sub). The optimal cutoff value of nPRLN was determined using X-tile software, and patients were divided into 2 groups according to the cutoff value: a nPRLN≤optimal cutoff group and a nPRLN>optimal cutoff group. The influence of confounding factors was minimized by propensity score matching (PSM) at a ratio of 1 : 1. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) of patients. Results A total of 1316 patients with TxN1M0 stage NSCLC were included, including 662 males and 654 females, with a median age of 67 (60, 73) years. The optimal cutoff value of nPRLN was 3, with 1165 patients in the nPRLN≤3 group and 151 patients in the nPRLN>3 group. After PSM, there were 138 patients in each group. Regardless of before or after PSM, OS and LCSS of patients in the nPRLN≤3 group were superior to those in the nPRLN>3 group (P<0.001). N1 stage nPRLN>3 was an independent prognostic risk factor for OS [HR=1.52, 95%CI (1.22, 1.89), P<0.001] and LCSS [HR=1.72, 95%CI (1.36, 2.18), P<0.001]. Conclusion N1 stage nPRLN>3 is an independent prognostic risk factor for NSCLC patients in TxN1M0 stage, which may provide new evidence for future revision of TNM staging N1 stage subclassification.
2.The prognostic value and immune regulatory role of BRF1 in pan-cancer, and its function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Jianxin XU ; Zihao LI ; Wang LÜ ; ; Zhiyang XU ; Yunfeng YI ; Songlin CHEN ; Jian HU ; Luming WANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):122-131
Objective To investigate the expression profile, prognostic value, gene co-expression network, and immunomodulatory role of BRF1 in a pan-cancer context, and to explore its biological functions and molecular regulatory mechanisms in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods The pan-cancer dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was utilized to analyze the differential expression of BRF1 in tumor versus normal tissues, its association with patient survival, pathway enrichment for co-expressed genes, and immune features (including immune checkpoints, cytokines, and immune cell infiltration). The expression profile of BRF1 in ESCC was validated using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. In vitro, BRF1 was knocked down in ESCC cells using siRNA. Cell proliferation and migration were assessed by MTT and Transwell assays, respectively. The expression levels of proliferation- and migration-related proteins were detected by Western blotting. The correlation between BRF1 and ferroptosis was analyzed using TCGA data. Results BRF1 was significantly upregulated in over 20 types of cancer, and its high expression was associated with poor prognosis in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma and prostate adenocarcinoma. BRF1 was found to positively regulate the T-cell-mediated cell death pathway in esophageal adenocarcinoma and was associated with the circadian rhythm regulation pathway in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The correlation of BRF1 with immune checkpoints, cytokine networks, and immune cell infiltration was found to be cancer type-specific. In vitro experiments demonstrated that knocking down BRF1 significantly inhibited the proliferation of ESCC cells, accompanied by the downregulation of the proliferation marker PCNA. Cell migration was also significantly impaired, with decreased expression of Vimentin and MMPs and increased expression of E-cadherin. Furthermore, the expression of BRF1 was positively correlated with that of ferroptosis-antagonizing genes, such as GPX4, HSPA5, and SLC7A11. Conclusion BRF1 plays complex roles in pan-cancer, participating in the regulation of tumorigenesis, progression, and immune infiltration. BRF1 promotes the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells, a mechanism potentially associated with the regulation of ferroptosis resistance. These findings suggest that BRF1 could be a potential therapeutic target for ESCC.
3.Body image disturbance status in AS patients and analysis of its influencing factors
Min NIU ; Jingman YUAN ; Liya MA ; Hao XU ; Jun LI ; Meixi YAN ; Xinru DU ; Hanhui MA ; Xichao YANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(1):158-162
Objective To understand the status of body image disturbance and its influencing factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), so as to provide a scientific basis for the clinical management of AS. Methods A total of 353 AS patients admitted from January 2022 to December 2024 were selected as research subjects. Chinese version of Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire (BIDQ) was used to investigate the body image disturbance in AS patients. Single factor analysis was performed by t test and analysis of variance, and multiple factors were analyzed by multivariate linear regression. Results The total score of BIDQ in 342 AS patients was (25.01±4.22). Multivariate linear regression analysis results showed that self-paid medical expense, nighttime VAS score and negative emotion PANAS score could positively predict body image disturbance in AS patients (standardized regression coefficient=0.413, 0.413, 0.460, P<0.05), and PSSS score, positive emotion PANAS score and exercise management CDSSM score could negatively predict body image disturbance (standardized regression coefficient=-0.245, -0.134, -0.247, P<0.05). Conclusion The body image disturbance in AS patients is worthy of clinical attention. Nighttime pain, negative emotion and self-paid medical treatment can increase the risk of body image disturbance. Positive emotion, social support and high self-management level of exercise behavior can reduce the formation of body image disturbance, which can provide new ideas for clinical management of AS patients.
4.Correlation between choreiform symptoms of hepatolenticular degeneration and caudate nucleus atrophy on brain magnetic resonance imaging
Journal of Apoplexy and Nervous Diseases 2026;43(2):105-109
Objective To quantitatively analyze the volumetric characteristics of each subregion of the basal ganglia in patients with hepatolenticular degeneration (also known as Wilson disease ,WD) using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and brain segmentation technology, to explore the specific imaging findings of choreiform symptoms, and to assess the clinical value of caudate nucleus atrophy as an imaging indicator for this symptom. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 40 WD patients with choreiform symptoms and 40 patients without choreiform symptoms from June 2023 to June 2025, and clinical indicators were compared between the two groups. In addition, the two groups were compared in terms of the volume of the basal ganglia after estimated total intracranial volume (eTIV) correction, and the correlation between the volume of differential brain regions and the chorea subscale score of Unified Wilson39;s Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS) was explored. Results There were no significant differences in baseline data between the two groups. UWDRS scores showed that the choreiform group had a higher neurological function score (P=0.005), a significantly higher chorea subscale score (P<0.01), and a lower hepatic function score (P<0.01). The choreiform group had a significantly smaller caudate nucleus volume than the non-choreiform group (P<0.001), suggesting severe subregional atrophy, and in contrast, the choreiform group had a significant increase in thalamus volume (P=0.002). Caudate nucleus volume ratio was significantly negatively correlated with chorea subscale score in the choreiform group (P<0.001). Conclusion Caudate nucleus atrophy is a specific imaging finding of choreiform symptoms in WD patients, and a quantitative analysis of caudate nucleus volume is expected to become an objective imaging indicator for assessing the severity of choreiform symptoms and monitoring disease progression in WD.
5.Cranial magnetic resonance imaging features and risk factors for seizures in patients with hepatolenticular degeneration and epilepsy
Journal of Apoplexy and Nervous Diseases 2026;43(2):110-113
Objective To investigate the cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of patients with hepatolenticular degeneration (also known as Wilson disease,WD) and epilepsy, and to identify the neuroimaging risk factors for seizures in WD patients. Methods A total of 69 WD patients with epilepsy who were hospitalized in Affiliated Hospital of Neurology Institute, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, from January 2018 to November 2025 were enrolled as study group, while 80 WD patients without seizures, matched for sex and age, during the same period of time were randomly selected as control group. Cranial MRI findings were compared between the two groups. Results There were 69 WD patients (43 male patients and 26 female patients) in the study group, with a mean age of (29.46±8.58) years at the time of attending the hospital, and all these patients had abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) findings. There were no significant differences between the two groups in age of onset,disease duration, WD subtype, and serum copper. Cranial MRI showed that the putamen was the most common site of brain injury (47 patients, 68.1%), followed by the frontal lobe (40 patients,58.0%) and the parietal lobe (31 patients,44.9%), and there was a significantly higher probability of epilepsy in patients with abnormal lesions in the frontal, temporal, or parietal lobes (P<0.05). Conclusion While the putamen is the most common site of brain injury in WD patients with epilepsy, frontal or temporal lobe injuries are neuroimaging risk factors for seizures in such patients.
Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe
;
Putamen
6.Research advances and challenges in antimicrobial resistance surveillance technologies
Feng LIU ; Caixia DANG ; Ziqian ZHAO ; Yang WANG ; Yuanyong XU ; Hui CHEN
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(3):128-132
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical global health threat. This review systematically examines AMR surveillance technology advances, from conventional culture methods to modern molecular diagnostics (e.g., whole-genome sequencing) and artificial intelligence-assisted approaches. It focuses on the current application of mass spectrometry, machine learning predictive models, and real-time surveillance networks. To address challenges including inadequate technical standardization, clinical translation barriers, and data-sharing limitations, we propose integrated "genotype-phenotype" strategies and global standardization framework, while exploring future applications of CRISPR-based portable detection, single-cell sequencing, and blockchain technologies.
7.Adjuvant intensification strategies for non-small cell lung cancer patients with non-pathological complete response after neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy
Jiang Zhanshenga ; Xu Jieb△ ; Zhang Zhenfab ; Pan Zhanyua
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2026;33(7):709-718
新辅助免疫联合化疗(NICT)已成为可切除的非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)的标准治疗模式,但约80%的患者术后仍存在残留病灶(非病理完全缓解,non-pCR)。这部分患者的长期生存显著低于达到病理完全缓解(pCR)的患者,5年总生存(OS)率约55%,成为当前围手术期治疗的重大挑战。借鉴乳腺癌领域对non-pCR患者实施辅助强化治疗(如恩美曲妥珠单抗、卡培他滨)的经验,本文探讨NSCLC在NICT后non-pCR人群的辅助治疗策略优化路径。重点分析了多种具有潜力的辅助强化手段,包括抗血管生成药物、抗体药物偶联物(ADC)、双特异性抗体(BsAb)、个体化新抗原疫苗及放疗和口服化疗药物等,旨在为清除耐药残留克隆提供新策略。同时提出可根据残留存活肿瘤(RVT)比例对复发风险进行精细分层、基于分子残留病灶(MRD)进行动态监测,建立整合RVT与MRD状态的风险自适应模型,以实现“因人施策”的个体化辅助强化治疗,以期改善non-pCR NSCLC人群的生存预后,并为该领域提供理论依据与研究方向。
8.Expert consensus on electronic patient-reported outcome-based symptom management for perioperative lung cancer patients (version 2026)
Wei DAI ; Cheng LEI ; Yuanqiang ZHANG ; Rong ZHANG ; Pengyu Jinming ; Jinming XU ; Yuzhen ZHENG ; Liang ZHAO ; Guibin QIAO ; Guowei CHE ; Jian HU ; Lei JIANG ; Jie LI ; Qiang LI ; Qiuling SHI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(08):1166-1178
Patients with lung cancer experience a heavy symptom burden during the perioperative period, which seriously affects their recovery and quality of life. Traditional symptom management models rely mainly on scheduled ward rounds during hospitalization and outpatient follow-up after discharge. However, they have limitations such as delayed symptom recognition, lack of post-discharge monitoring, and non-quantitative symptom assessment, which often lead to delayed interventions and low patient satisfaction. In recent years, the symptom management model based on electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) has been increasingly valued in clinical practice. Existing high-level evidence from both domestic and international studies indicates that, through proactive monitoring, real-time alerts, and remote interventions, this model enables dynamic and continuous symptom management and helps improve patient recovery and healthcare experience. As a supplement to routine medical care, the ePRO-based symptom management model aims to enhance the quality of care rather than replace existing medical processes. To promote the standardized application of this model in perioperative lung cancer care, this consensus integrates domestic and international evidence. After multiple rounds of voting by more than 50 experts, it formulates 12 consensus statements covering the three core components, symptom monitoring, alerting, and intervention, to provide scientific and practical recommendations for clinical practice.
9.Influence and mechanism of curcumin on the biological behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells based on network pharmacology and transcriptomics
LIU Ji' ; an ; XU Bo ; ZHANG Ling
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(9):871-885
Objective:
To investigate the effects of curcumin on the biological behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells and its potential molecular mechanisms, as well as to provide experimental evidence for the application of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of OSCC.
Methods:
All animal experiments in this study were approved by the Institutional Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee and strictly adhered to relevant animal ethics guidelines. Potential intersecting targets of curcumin and OSCC were screened using TCMSP, SwissTargetPrediction, DrugBank, and GeneCards databases, followed by construction of a protein-protein interaction network and gene ontology(GO) /Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Scratch and clone formation experiments were conducted using CAL-27 and SCC-9 cells to detect the effect of curcumin on cell migration and proliferation ability. Combining RNA sequencing analysis of differentially expressed genes, and verifying the changes in mRNA and protein expression of key cellular molecules by curcumin through real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively. Simultaneously establish a CAL-27 xenograft BALB/c nude mouse transplant tumor model and use immunohistochemistry to detect the effect of curcumin treatment on the expression of related proteins in the transplant tumor tissue.
Results:
A total of 178 intersecting targets were identified, mainly enriched in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and lipid metabolism-related pathways. Curcumin significantly inhibited migration and colony formation of CAL-27 and SCC-9 cells in vitro. Transcriptomic analysis identified 828 differentially expressed genes enriched in lipid metabolism and PI3K/AKT pathways. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR showed downregulation of PIK3CA, CCND1, BCL2, and FASN, while western blot demonstrated decreased expression of p-AKT and FASN. In vivo, curcumin markedly suppressed tumor growth and reduced the expression of Ki-67, BCL2, and p-AKT in tumor tissues.
Conclusion
Curcumin may inhibit the migration and proliferation of OSCC cells by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes.
10.Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram model for patients with the lower third and abdominal oesophageal adenocarcinoma
Zhengshui XU ; Dandan LIU ; Jiantao JIANG ; Ranran KONG ; Jianzhong LI ; Yuefeng MA ; Zhenchuan MA ; Jia CHEN ; Minxia ZHU ; Shaomin LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(02):201-207
Objective To establish an individualized nomogram model and evaluate its efficacy to provide a possible evaluation basis for the prognosis of lower third and abdominal part of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Methods Lower third and abdominal part of EAC patients from 2010 to 2015 were chosen from the SEER Research Plus Database (17 Regs, 2022nov sub). The patients were randomly allocated to the training cohort and the internal validation cohort with a ratio of 7∶3 using bootstrap resampling. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to determine significant contributors to overall survival (OS) in EAC patients, which would be elected to construct the nomogram prediction model. C-index, calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were performed to evaluate its efficacy. Finally, the efficacy to evaluate the OS of EAC patients was compared between the nomogram prediction model and TNM staging system. Results In total, 3945 patients with lower third and abdominal part of EAC were enrolled, including 3475 males and 470 females with a median age of 65 (57-72) years. The 2761 patients were allocated to the training cohort and the remaining 1184 patients to the internal validation cohort. In the training and the internal validation cohorts, the C-index of the nomogram model was 0.705 and 0.713, respectively. Meanwhile, the calibration curve also suggested that the nomogram model had a strong capability of predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of EAC patients. The nomogram also had a higher efficacy than the TNM staging system in predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of EAC patients. Conclusion This nomogram prediction model has a high efficiency for predicting OS in the patients with lower third and abdominal part of EAC, which is higher than that of the current TNM staging system.


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