BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide and a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Early-stage lung cancer is often manifested as pulmonary nodules, and accurate assessment of the malignancy risk is crucial for prolonging survival and avoiding overtreatment. This study aims to construct a model based on image feature parameters automatically extracted by artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate its effectiveness in predicting the malignancy of part-solid nodule (PSN). METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 229 PSN from 222 patients who underwent pulmonary nodule resection at Lanzhou University Second Hospital between October 2020 and February 2025. According to pathological results, 45 cases of benign lesions and precursor glandular lesion were categorized into the non-malignant group, and 184 cases of pulmonary malignancies were categorized into the malignant group. All patients underwent preoperative chest computed tomography (CT), and AI software was used to extract imaging feature parameters. Univariate analysis was used to screen significant variables; variance inflation factor (VIF) was calculated to exclude highly collinear variables, and LASSO regression was further applied to identify key features. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to determine independent risk factors. Based on the selected variables, five models were constructed: Logistic regression, random forest, XGBoost, LightGBM, and support vector machine (SVM). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the performance of the models. RESULTS: The independent risk factors for the malignancy of PSN include roughness (ngtdm), dependence variance (gldm), and short run low gray-level emphasis (glrlm). Logistic regression achieved area under the curves ( AUCs) of 0.86 and 0.89 in the training and testing sets, respectively, showing good performance. XGBoost had AUCs of 0.78 and 0.77, respectively, demonstrating relatively balanced performance, but with lower accuracy. SVM showed an AUC of 0.93 in the training set, which decreased to 0.80 in the testing set, indicating overfitting. LightGBM performed excellently in the training set with an AUC of 0.94, but its performance declined in the testing set, with an AUC of 0.88. In contrast, random forest demonstrated stable performance in both the training and testing sets, with AUCs of 0.89 and 0.91, respectively, exhibiting high stability and excellent generalizability. CONCLUSIONS The random forest model constructed based on independent risk factors demonstrated the best performance in predicting the malignancy of PSN and could provide effective auxiliary predictions for clinicians, supporting individualized treatment decisions.
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Humans ; Male ; Female ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Artificial Intelligence ; Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Adult ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule/diagnostic imaging* ; ROC Curve

This study aimed to comprehensively examine the association of gallstones, cholecystectomy, and cancer risk. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to estimate the observational associations of gallstones and cholecystectomy with cancer risk, using data from a nationwide cohort involving 239 799 participants. General and gender-specific two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was further conducted to assess the causalities of the observed associations. Observationally, a history of gallstones without cholecystectomy was associated with a high risk of stomach cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-4.28), liver and bile duct cancer (aOR=2.46, 95% CI 1.17-5.16), kidney cancer (aOR=2.04, 95% CI 1.05-3.94), and bladder cancer (aOR=2.23, 95% CI 1.01-5.13) in the general population, as well as cervical cancer (aOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.56) in women. Moreover, cholecystectomy was associated with high odds of stomach cancer (aOR=2.41, 95% CI 1.29-4.49), colorectal cancer (aOR=1.83, 95% CI 1.18-2.85), and cancer of liver and bile duct (aOR=2.58, 95% CI 1.11-6.02). MR analysis only supported the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer. This study added evidence to the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer, highlighting the importance of cancer screening in individuals with gallstones.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Gallstones/complications* ; Female ; Male ; Cholecystectomy/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Aged ; Adult ; Neoplasms/etiology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology*

This article reports the first case of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale(PFO)using a biodegradable occluder under echocardiography guidance.The patient is a 43-year-old female diagnosed with PFO-related stroke.The procedure was successfully completed under echocardiography guidance without complications.During the 48-month follow-up period,the patient experienced no recurrent strokes,and the occluder was fully degraded.

This article reports the first case of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale(PFO)using a biodegradable occluder under echocardiography guidance.The patient is a 43-year-old female diagnosed with PFO-related stroke.The procedure was successfully completed under echocardiography guidance without complications.During the 48-month follow-up period,the patient experienced no recurrent strokes,and the occluder was fully degraded.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

Objective To investigate the relationship between neutrophil/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio(NHR)and the severity of coronary artery lesions in young adults with acute myocardial infarction.Methods A total of 109 young a-dults(aged 18～45 years)with acute myocardial infarction admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2019 to June 2023 were selected and divided into Syntax low-risk group(n=85)and Syntax medium-high-risk group(n=24)according to Syntax score.Patients with negative coronary angiography during the same period were negative control group(n=52).General clinical data and related serum markers were collected,and NHR value was calculated.Pearson correla-tion analysis and logistics regression analysis were performed to examine the correlation between NHR and the severity of coro-nary artery lesions.Subgroup analysis and interaction testing were further conducted.The receiver operating curve(ROC)was performed to evaluate the value of NHR in predicting the severity of coronary artery lesions in young adults with acute myocar-dial infarction.Results Gender,smoking rate,alcohol consumption rate,diabetes history,absolute number of neutrophils,tri-glyceride,HDL-C,NHR,VLDL-C,apolipoprotein B(APOB),fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin were signifi-cantly different among the three groups(P＜0.05).In pairwise comparison,the absolute number of neutrophil and NHR were significantly different among the three groups.BMI was significant different between non-CHD group and Syntax medium-high-risk group.HDL-C,fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin were significant different between Syntax low-risk group and non-CHD group,as well as between Syntax medium-high-risk group and non-CHD group(P＜0.05).Creatinine and APOB were significant different between Syntax low-risk group and non-CHD group.Triglyceride,VLDL-C and LP(a)were significant different between Syntax low-risk group and Syntax medium-high-risk group(P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed a positively correlation between NHR and Syntax score(r=0.322,P＜0.01).Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regres-sion analysis showed that NHR(OR=1.265,95％CI1.097～1.458,P＜0.05)was an independent risk factor for the severity of coronary artery lesions in young adults with acute myocardial infarction.Subgroup analysis showed that NHR was significantly associated with the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with BMI≥24 kg/m2,smokers,drinkers and non-drinkers(P＜0.05).No significant difference was observed in interaction analysis.The ROC curve showed that the area under the curve(AUC)predicted by NHR for acute myocardial infarction in young adults was 0.758,with a cut-off value of 7.0319,sensitivity of 83.3％,and specificity of 63.53％.Conclusion NHR has a certain value in predicting the severity of coronary artery lesions in young adults with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND:The distribution of horizontal pressure in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis can be used to evaluate the coronal imbalance.Currently,there are no reports on the characteristics of coronal pressure distribution and its correlation with coronal imbalance. OBJECTIVE:To explore the correlation between coronal pressure variation and coronal imbalance in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. METHODS:A total of 39 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in Lianyungang First People's Hospital from March 2021 to June 2022 were selected as the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group,and 30 matched healthy volunteers were recruited from the outpatient department as the control group.The horizontal position pressure,folding position pressure,coefficient of variation,and global and trunk pressure variation were measured by the TBED Postural Couch evaluation system.In the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group,full-length spine radiographs were taken to measure Cobb angle,coronal balance,apical vertebral deviation and Nash-Moe rotation.The characteristics of coronal pressure variation and its correlation with coronal imbalance were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the control group,there was no statistically significant difference in the horizontal position pressure and folding position pressure in the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group(P>0.05),but the global pressure variation and coefficient of variation were significantly increased(all P<0.05).(2)There were differences in both sides of the trunk of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group and the control group(P<0.05),and the convex side pressure variation in the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group was higher than the concave side pressure variation in the left and right side pressure variation in the control group(all P<0.05).(3)The variation of the convex side pressure of the trunk in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients was positively correlated with coronal balance intensity(r=0.692,P<0.05),moderately positively correlated with Cobb angle and apical vertebral deviation(r=0.499,0.595,all P<0.05),and weakly correlated with Nash-Moe grade(r=0.377,P<0.05).The variation of the concave side pressure of the trunk was moderately positively correlated with coronal balance(r=0.410,P<0.05),and the rest was weakly correlated or not correlated(P>0.05).(4)These findings indicate that pressure variation may be used as an adjoint assessment tool in patients with mild to moderate scoliosis.

Objective:To construct an evaluation system for clinical thinking ability of general practitioners in the treatment of multimorbidity.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. The draft of evaluation indexes for clinical thinking ability of general practitioners in treatment of multimorbidity was preliminary developed through literature review, collation, analysis and discussion. Nineteen clinical and teaching experts of general practice were selected for consultation via anonymous convenient sampling. From January to June 2022, 2 rounds of expert consultation were conducted using the Delphi method. During the first round of consultation, according to the survey feedback, we modified and improved the evaluation system of general practitioners′ clinical thinking ability for multi-disease co-treatment. During the second round, experts were asked to assess the importance of each index, and to calculate the weight of each index accordingly. Questionnaires were sent to experts via letters. The content of the questionnaires encompasses the basic information of experts, evaluation for various indexes and relevant opinions. The mean value of importance assignment ≥3.5, coefficient of variation ≤0.25 and the full score frequency ≥30% were taken as the criteria. Indexes unsatisfying the criteria were removed, so that the final index system could be constructed.Results:The average age of 19 experts was 50.2 years old, 9 of them were male. A total of 2 rounds of expert consultation were conducted, 19 questionnaires were issued in each round, and 19 effective questionnaires were received afterwards. In the first round of consultation, 10 experts put forward revised opinions, and some indexes were adjusted according to the definition criteria and the discussion of the research group. In the second round of consultation, 3 experts put forward suggestions for modification. According to the definition criteria, no need to delete the indexes. After discussion by the research group, some indexes were adjusted, and finally an evaluation system of clinical thinking ability for multi-disease co-treatment of general practitioners was established, including 4 first-level indexes and 30 second-level indexes. The weights of the 4 first-level indexes in descending order were "overall thinking ability" (38.01%), "diagnostic thinking ability" (33.96%), "evidence-based thinking ability" (14.75%), and "critical thinking ability" (13.28%). Among the 30 secondary indexes, the top 5 were "ability to identify and handle priority emergency incidents" (5.04%), "risk assessment and critical illness identification ability" (4.63%), "emergency referral ability" (4.61%), "communication and expression ability" (4.57%), and "standardized diagnosis and treatment ability" (4.23%).Conclusion:This study successfully constructed an evaluation system for clinical thinking ability of general practitioners in the treatment of multimorbidity.

Objective:To study the correlation between serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and echocardiographic parameters in patients with chronic Keshan disease, providing reference for diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of chronic Keshan disease.Methods:Ninety-nine patients with chronic Keshan disease who received standardized treatment at Jingchuan County People's Hospital in Pingliang City, Gansu Province from January to December 2020 were selected. Among them, 16 patients were classified as cardiac function grade Ⅱ according to New York Heart Association (NYHA), 69 as grade Ⅲ and 14 as grade Ⅳ. The patients underwent echocardiography and their serum NT-proBNP level was measured using fluorescence immunochromatography. The differences in serum NT-proBNP levels among patients with different cardiac function grades were compared, and the correlation between cardiac function grades, serum NT-proBNP level and echocardiographic parameters was analyzed.Results:The serum NT-proBNP levels in patients with cardiac function grades Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ were (1 107.26 ± 268.03), (2 125.98 ± 293.02), and (8 268.59 ± 2 659.50) pg/ml, respectively. The differences among the three groups were statistically significant ( F = 13.94, P < 0.001). The serum NT-proBNP level was positively correlated with cardiac function grades ( r = 0.44, P < 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and left atrial diameter ( r = 0.45, 0.52, 0.38, P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with fractional shortening and left ventricular ejection fraction ( r = - 0.39, - 0.46, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The serum NT-proBNP level in patients with chronic Keshan disease with different cardiac function grades is different, and is positively correlated with echocardiographic parameters reflecting the degree of cardiac structural and functional impairment. The NT-proBNP level may become an early diagnostic, grading, and prognostic indicator for chronic Keshan disease.