Tumor is the result of long-term and unlimited proliferation of cells. Tumor cells adjust various metabolic fluxes to meet increased bioenergy and biosynthetic requirements. Serine is one of the eight non-essential amino acids in the human body. It plays an important role in a variety of physiological activities and can provide one carbon unit, glycine, etc. for cell proliferation. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of glycine and serine. It is highly expressed in a variety of tumors and is a potential target for anti-tumor drugs. This article focuses on the potential of SHMT as a new target for cancer treatment and the preliminary application of its inhibitors in preclinical studies of tumors, providing reference for the development of new targeted drugs for tumors.

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes in the patients with concurrent knee osteoarthritis （KOA） and postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMOP） and provide a scientific basis for precise TCM syndrome differentiation， diagnosis， and treatment of such concurrent diseases. MethodsA prospective， multicenter， cross-sectional clinical survey was conducted to analyze the characteristics of TCM syndromes in the patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA. Excel 2021 was used to statistically analyze the general characteristics of the included patients. Continuous variables were reported as x¯±s， and binary variables were reported as percentages. UCINET and Gephi were used to construct a complex "isease-syndrome-symptom" network for in-depth mining. Topological structure indicators， edge connection information between nodes， and weighted adjacency matrices were calculated by UCINET and Python. Gephi was used for complex network visualization. ResultsA total of 157 patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA from 12 TCM hospitals or community health service centers were selected for the collection of TCM syndrome and symptom information. A total of 4 main TCM syndromes were obtained， which were kidney-Yang deficiency （47.13%）， liver-kidney Yin deficiency （36.94%）， spleen-kidney Yang deficiency （8.92%）， and kidney Yin-Yang deficiency （7.01%）. In addition， 10 concurrent syndromes （mainly Qi stagnation and blood stasis， Qi and blood deficiency， spleen Yang deficiency， and cold-dampness） were identified. Based on the results of comprehensive frequency statistics and complex network analysis， as well as TCM theoretical knowledge and relevant guidelines， the general characteristics of concurrent PMOP and KOA and the main TCM syndromes in the dimensions of physical symptoms， pain， tongue and pulse manifestations， and defecation and urination were obtained. ConclusionThe main TCM syndromes in the patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA may be kidney Yang deficiency， liver-kidney Yin deficiency， spleen-kidney Yang deficiency， and kidney Yin-Yang deficiency， among which kidney Yang deficiency and liver-kidney Yin deficiency are the core TCM syndromes.

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes in the patients with concurrent knee osteoarthritis （KOA） and postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMOP） and provide a scientific basis for precise TCM syndrome differentiation， diagnosis， and treatment of such concurrent diseases. MethodsA prospective， multicenter， cross-sectional clinical survey was conducted to analyze the characteristics of TCM syndromes in the patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA. Excel 2021 was used to statistically analyze the general characteristics of the included patients. Continuous variables were reported as x¯±s， and binary variables were reported as percentages. UCINET and Gephi were used to construct a complex "isease-syndrome-symptom" network for in-depth mining. Topological structure indicators， edge connection information between nodes， and weighted adjacency matrices were calculated by UCINET and Python. Gephi was used for complex network visualization. ResultsA total of 157 patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA from 12 TCM hospitals or community health service centers were selected for the collection of TCM syndrome and symptom information. A total of 4 main TCM syndromes were obtained， which were kidney-Yang deficiency （47.13%）， liver-kidney Yin deficiency （36.94%）， spleen-kidney Yang deficiency （8.92%）， and kidney Yin-Yang deficiency （7.01%）. In addition， 10 concurrent syndromes （mainly Qi stagnation and blood stasis， Qi and blood deficiency， spleen Yang deficiency， and cold-dampness） were identified. Based on the results of comprehensive frequency statistics and complex network analysis， as well as TCM theoretical knowledge and relevant guidelines， the general characteristics of concurrent PMOP and KOA and the main TCM syndromes in the dimensions of physical symptoms， pain， tongue and pulse manifestations， and defecation and urination were obtained. ConclusionThe main TCM syndromes in the patients with concurrent PMOP and KOA may be kidney Yang deficiency， liver-kidney Yin deficiency， spleen-kidney Yang deficiency， and kidney Yin-Yang deficiency， among which kidney Yang deficiency and liver-kidney Yin deficiency are the core TCM syndromes.

Objective: To investigate the trends in incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer in cancer registration areas of Anhui Province from 2014 to 2020, so as to provide the basis for formulating prevention and control measures. Methods: The incidence and mortality data of esophageal cancer in Anhui Province from 2014 to 2020 was collected through the Cancer Registry in Anhui Province. The crude incidence and crude mortality were calculated. The Chinese population-standardized rate was standardized using the age structure of the standard population from the Fifth National Population Census in 2000. The trends in incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer were analyzed using the average annual percent change (APPC), stratified by genders, urban/rural areas, and ages. Results: In Anhui Province, the rank of esophageal cancer incidence dropped from the third in 2014 to the sixth in 2020. Concurrently, the crude incidence and Chinese population-standardized incidence declined from 28.74/100 000 and 20.74/100 000 to 19.23/100 000 and 10.59/100 000, respectively (AAPC=-5.846%, -9.658%, both P<0.05). The mortality rank remained stable at the fourth in 2014 and 2020, while the crude mortality and Chinese population-standardized mortality decreased from 19.96/100 000 and 14.09/100 000 to 16.00/100 000 and 8.41/100 000, respectively (AAPC=-3.542%, -7.784%, both P<0.05). The Chinese population-standardized incidence (AAPC=-9.682%, -9.188%, -6.175% and -12.575%, all P<0.05) and Chinese population-standardized mortality (AAPC=-7.734%. -7.447%. -5.366% and -10.209%, all P<0.05) showed declining trends in males, females, urban, and rural areas, respectively. From 2014 to 2020 in Anhui Province, the crude incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer generally increased with age. However, significant declining trends were observed in crude incidence (AAPC=-12.779%, -11.701%, -11.955% and -5.751%, all P<0.05) and crude mortality (AAPC=-12.255%, -11.120%, -10.985% and -5.751%, all P<0.05) for the age groups of 40-<50, 50-<60, 60-<70, 70-<80 years. A significant declining trend in crude incidence was also seen in the ≥80 years group (APPC=-6.334%, P<0.05), but the trend in crude mortality was no statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion In registration areas of Anhui Province, the incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer exhibited a declining trend from 2014 to 2020, calling for focused attention on the middle-aged and elderly population and enhanced health behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol control.

Objective: To analyze the trends in disease burden of tuberculosis among children under 5 years of age in China from 1990 to 2021, so as to provide insights for future tuberculosis control measures among children in China. Methods: Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 datasets, the incidence, prevalence, mortality and disability adjusted life year(DALY) of tuberculosis of children under 5 years of age in China and globally were collected from 1990 to 2021. The incidence, prevalence, mortality and DALY rate of tuberculosis were compared by genders and types. In addition,the annual percent change(APC) and the average annual percent change(AAPC) of children s tuberculosis burden in China and globally from 1990 to 2021 were calculated by using the Joinpoint regression model, and the changing trends were analyzed. Results: The numbers of incident, prevalent and dead tuberculosis cases were 9 700, 8 477 800 and 200 among children under 5 years of age in China in 2021, and the DALY due to tuberculosis were 27 100 person years. There were significant reductions in incidence, prevalence, mortality and DALY rate of tuberculosis among children under 5 years of age in China ( AAPC =-5.45%, -1.14%, -12.37%, -11.34 %) and globally( AAPC =-2.38%, -1.41%, -4.66%, -4.56%), and the reductions in the incidence, mortality and DALY rate were more significant in China than globally ( P <0.05).In 1992 and later, the numbers of incident, prevalent and dead tuberculosis cases and the DALY of tuberculosis were higher among male than among female. In addition, the disease burden of drug susceptible tuberculosis appeared a tendency of downward in China from 1990 to 2021, while the incidence and prevalence of extensively drug resistant tuberculosis rose since 2015. Conclusions The disease burden of tuberculosis remarkably reduced among children under 5 years of age in China from 1990 to 2021. However, the burden of disease due to multidrug resistant tuberculosis appeared an upward trend recently. Increased attention is required to be paid to the prevention and control of tuberculosis among children and improved diagnosis and treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis are recommended.

Objective:To develop a robotic digestive endoscope system (RDES) and to evaluate its feasibility, safety and control performance by experiments.Methods:The RDES was designed based on the master-slave control system, which consisted of 3 parts: the integrated endoscope, including a knob and button robotic control system integrated with a gastroscope; the robotic mechanical arm system, including the base and arm, as well as the endoscopic advance-retreat control device (force-feedback function was designed) and the endoscopic axial rotation control device; the control console, including a master manipulator and an image monitor. The operator sit far away from the endoscope and controlled the master manipulator to bend the end of the endoscope and to control advance, retract and rotation of the endoscope. The air supply, water supply, suction, figure fixing and motion scaling switching was realized by pressing buttons on the master manipulator. In the endoscopy experiments performed on live pigs, 5 physicians each were in the beginner and advanced groups. Each operator operated RDES and traditional endoscope (2 weeks interval) to perform porcine gastroscopy 6 times, comparing the examination time. In the experiment of endoscopic circle drawing on the inner wall of the simulated stomach model, each operator in the two groups operated RDES 1∶1 motion scaling, 5∶1 motion scaling and ordinary endoscope to complete endoscopic circle drawing 6 times, comparing the completion time, accuracy (i.e. trajectory deviation) and workload.Results:RDES was operated normally with good force feedback function. All porcine in vivo gastroscopies were successful, without mucosal injury, bleeding or perforation. In beginner and advanced groups, the examination time of both RDES and ordinary endoscopy tended to decrease as the number of operations increased, but the decrease in time was greater for operating RDES than for operating ordinary endoscope (beginner group P=0.033; advanced group P=0.023). In the beginner group, the operators operating RDES with 1∶1 motion scaling or 5∶1 motion scaling to complete endoscopic circle drawing had shorter completion time [1.68 (1.40, 2.17) min, 1.73 (1.47, 2.37) min VS 4.13 (2.27, 5.16) min, H=32.506, P<0.001], better trajectory deviation (0.50±0.11 mm, 0.46±0.11 mm VS 0.82±0.26 mm, F=38.999, P<0.001], and less workload [42.00 (30.00, 50.33) points, 43.33 (35.33, 54.00) points VS 52.67 (48.67, 63.33) points, H=20.056, P<0.001] than operating ordinary endoscope. In the advanced group, the operators operating RDES with 1∶1 or 5∶1 motion scaling to complete endoscopic circle drawing had longer completion time than operating ordinary endoscope [1.72 (1.37, 2.53) min, 1.57 (1.25, 2.58) min VS 1.15 (0.86, 1.58) min, H=13.233, P=0.001], but trajectory deviation [0.47 (0.13, 0.57) mm, 0.44 (0.39, 0.58) mm VS 0.52 (0.42, 0.59) mm, H=3.202, P=0.202] and workload (44.62±21.77 points, 41.24±12.57 points VS 44.71±17.92 points, F=0.369, P=0.693) were not different from those of the ordinary endoscope. Conclusion:The RDES enables remote control, greatly reducing the endoscopists' workload. Additionally, it gives full play to the cooperative motion function of the large and small endoscopic knobs, making the control more flexible. Finally, it increases motion scaling switching function to make the control of endoscope more flexible and more accurate. It is also easy for beginners to learn and master, and can shorten the training period. So it can provide the possibility of remote endoscopic control and fully automated robotic endoscope.

Objective: To construct a prediction model for preterm birth risk among pregnant women, so as to provide the reference for screening high-risk population and preventing preterm birth. Methods: Pregnant women who received antenatal examination and delivered at the Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University from January 1 to December 31, 2019 were selected as the study subjects, among them, 80% were included in the modeling group, and 20% were included in the validation group. Demographic and clinical information were collected. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyze the predictive factors of preterm birth risk in the modeling group, and a preterm birth risk prediction model was established based on the OR values of predictive factors. The model was validated with the data from the validation group. The Youden index was used to determine the critical score for predicting preterm birth risk. The prediction performance of the model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: A total of 15 197 pregnant women were surveyed, including 12 131 pregnant women in the observation group and 3 066 pregnant women in the validation group. There was no statistically significant difference in age, education level and gravidity between the two groups of pregnant women (all P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified the number of pregnancies, education level, place of residence, hypertension, diabetes, history of preterm birth, twin-pregnancy, placenta praevia, and gestational hypertension as risk prediction factors for preterm birth risk among pregnant women. The risk score system for preterm birth was established as follows: >2 pregnancies (2 points), high school education or below (4 points), college degree or above (-4 points), rural residence (5 points), hypertension (7 points), diabetes (11 points), history of preterm birth (11 points), twin-pregnancy (28 points), placenta previa (19 points), and gestational hypertension (12 points). The total score of the preterm birth risk scoring system ranged from -4 to 99 points. When the critical score was 8 points, the Youden index was the highest at 0.480, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.749 (95%CI: 0.732-0.767), a sensitivity of 0.610, and a specificity of 0.886, indicating good prediction performance of the model. Conclusion The preterm birth risk prediction model established in this study based on demographic and clinical characteristics of pregnant women can effectively predict the risk of preterm birth among pregnant women.

BACKGROUND:Bibliometrics and visual analyses based on thematic literature are particularly important for understanding the foundation and frontiers of postmenopausal osteoporosis research. OBJECTIVE:To perform bibliometric,citation,and visualization analyses of highly cited SCI papers in postmenopausal osteoporosis research over the last 20 years. METHODS:The top 100 highly cited papers on postmenopausal osteoporosis published between 2003 and 2022 included in SCI-EXPANDED catalog of the Web of Science database were obtained for bibliometric measure and visual analysis using CiteSpace software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The top 100 highly cited papers have a total of 67 377 citations in the Web of Science Core Collection,with an annual average of 49.17 citations per paper.Postmenopausal osteoporosis research primarily involves medical,engineering,biological,and multidisciplinary fields.The subcategories are dominated by endocrinology and metabolism,and medicine:internal medicine.Stable and close cooperative network relationships have been formed globally.United States,University of California System,Cummings,and Steven R are the country,research institution,and author,respectively,with the most highly-cited publications.The frontiers of postmenopausal osteoporosis research mainly include calcium and vitamin D supplementation and fracture risk,clinical studies of bisphosphonates in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis,atypical femur fracture,clinical studies of new drugs and sequential treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis,predictors of fracture risk,mid-and long-term follow-up of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures,genetic polymorphisms and hereditary factors,formulation and updating of clinical practice guidelines for postmenopausal osteoporosis.Large cohort studies,high-quality randomized controlled trials,systematic reviews,meta-analyses,and clinical practice guidelines are the great engines that drive the development of clinical research in postmenopausal osteoporosis.We should make efforts in the above areas to improve China's international influence in the field of osteoporosis.

Objective To explore the feasibility and accuracy of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)in the prediction of testicular torsion(TT)in children with acute scrotal pain.Methods A retrospective case-control study was performed on 158 pediatric patients with ultrasound suspicion of TT who underwent surgical testicular examination during Jan.2017 and Jan.2024.The patients were divided into TT group and non-TT group.Clinical data and laboratory data at admission were analyzed.Sensitivity and specificity of NLR to TT were determined with the area under the curve(AUC)represented on the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Results There were with no statistically significant differences in clinical data between the two groups(P＞0.05).The NLR was significantly higher in the TT group than in the non-TT group[(4.82±2.37)vs.(2.85±0.75),P＜0.05].The optimal cut-off value of TT predicted by NLR was 2.07,the AUC was 0.809(95％CI:0.709-0.909),and the sensitivity and specificity were 97.9％and 93.3％,respectively,which were significantly higher than other factors.Conclusion For suspicious ultrasound diagnosis of pediatric acute scrotal pain cases,NLR can be used to predict the possibility of TT and may help to evaluate the urgent surgical treatment in these patients.

Objective To analyze the effectiveness and safety of bisphosphonates in the treatment of pa-tients with calcification defense.Methods PubMed,Embase databases,CNKI and Wanfang were searched to collect the case reports and clinical studies of bisphosphonates for calcification defense.Then,the relevant infor-mation of patients was extracted for statistical analysis.Results A total of 18 case reports were selected involving 20 patients.Thirteen patients(65.0％)were treated with pamidronate,four(20.0％)were treated with etidr-onate,two(10.0％)were treated with alendronate,and one(5.0％)was treated with zoledronic acid.Thirteen patients(65.0％)recovered completely,the recovery time of whom ranged from half month to nine months.The tolerance of bisphosphonates in most patients(90.0％)was good,while one patient who did not tolerate pamidr-onate recovered after the frequency of administration was adjusted and one patient with high dosage of etidronate returned to normal after the discontinuation of the usage.Conclusions Bisphosphonates,an inhibitor of bone resorption,is effective and safe in the treatment of patients with calcification defense.