Artificial intelligence (AI) has been widely used in all walks of life, including healthcare, and has shown great application value in the auxiliary diagnosis of pulmonary nodules in the medical field. In the face of a large amount of lung imaging data, clinicians use AI tools to identify lesions more quickly and accurately, improving work efficiency, but there are still many problems in this field, such as the high false positive rate of recognition, and the difficulty in identifying special types of nodules. Researchers and clinicians are actively developing and using AI tools to promote their continuous evolution and make them better serve human health. This article reviews the clinical application and research progress of AI-assisted diagnosis of pulmonary nodules.

The high content of sucrose and raffinose reduces the prebiotic value of soybean oligosaccharides. Fructan sucrases can catalyze the conversion of sucrose and raffinose to high-value products such as fructooligosaccharides and melibiose. To obtain a fructan sucrase that can efficiently convert soybean oligosaccharides, we first mined the fructan sucrase gene from microorganisms in the coastal areas of Xisha Islands and Bohai Bay and then characterized the enzymatic and catalytic properties of the enzyme. Finally, recombinant extracellular expression of this gene was carried out in Bacillus subtilis. The results showed that a novel fructan sucrase, BhLS 39, was mined from Bacillus halotolerans. With sucrose and raffinose as substrates, BhLS 39 showed the optimal temperatures of 50 ℃ and 55 ℃, optimal pH 5.5 for both, and K_cat/K_m ratio of 3.4 and 6.6 L/(mmol·s), respectively. When 400 g/L raffinose was used as the substrate, the melibiose conversion rate was 84.6% after 30 min treatment with 5 U BhLS 39. Furthermore, BhLS 39 catalyzed the conversion of sucrose to produce levan-type-fructooligosaccharide and levan. Then, the recombinant extracellular expression of BhLS 39 in B. subtilis was achieved. The co-expression of the intracellular chaperone DnaK and the extracellular chaperone PrsA increased the extracellular activity of the recombinant BhLS 39 by 5.2 folds to 17 U/mL compared with that of the control strain. BhLS 39 obtained in this study is conducive to improving the quality and economic benefits of soybean oligosaccharides. At the same time, the strategy used here to enhance the extracellular expression of BhLS 39 will also promote the efficient recombinant expression of other proteins in B. subtilis.
Oligosaccharides/metabolism* ; Glycine max/metabolism* ; Bacillus subtilis/metabolism* ; Sucrase/biosynthesis* ; Raffinose/metabolism* ; Fructans/metabolism* ; Sucrose/metabolism* ; Bacillus/genetics* ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis* ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis*

BACKGROUND:Hemivertebra deformity should be treated surgically at an early age,but the risk factors for progression of deformity after hemivertebral resection have not been established.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the curative effect of one-stage posterior hemivertebrae resection and pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of congenital scoliosis,and to further explore the risk factors causing the progression of postoperative deformity.METHODS:The medical records of patients who underwent pedicle screw-rod fixation for unilateral hemivertebral deformity from January 2012 to February 2020 and were followed up for at least 2 years were retrospectively analyzed,and a total of 116 patients met the inclusion criteria.All patients were treated with standing anterior and lateral spinal radiographs taken before,after and at each follow-up time point.The segment Cobb angle,the total scoliosis Cobb angle,the proximal complementary Cobb angle,the distal complementary Cobb angle,and the coronal balance distance,apical vertebra distance,upper instrumented vertebra tilt,upper instrumented vertebra disc angle,lower instrumented vertebra tilt,lower instrumented vertebra disc angle,segmental kyphosis/lordosis,thoracic kyphosis,lumbar lordosis and sagittal vertical axis were measured.The progression of deformity and complications were also recorded.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Segment Cobb,total scoliosis Cobb,segmental kyphosis,proximal complementary Cobb,and distal complementary Cobb were significantly corrected after operation(P＜0.05),and remained corrected at the last follow-up.Thoracic kyphosis,lumbar lordosis,coronal balance distance,and sagittal vertical axis were all in the normal range pre-operation,after operation and at the last follow-up.(2)During follow-up,10 patients developed coronary decompensation,which was characterized by abnormal progression.(3)Independent sample t-test showed that preoperative total scoliosis Cobb,preoperative apical vertebra distance,age,Risser sign,postoperative upper instrument vertebra tilt and postoperative lowest instrumented vertebra tilt were correlated with postoperative malformation progression(P＜0.05).(4)Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that postoperative lowest instrumented vertebra tilt was an independent risk factor for postoperative malformation progression(P=0.002,OR=1.526).(5)Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a postoperative lowest instrumented vertebra tilt of 8.14° was the optimal threshold for deformity progression after hemivertebrae resection and pedicle rod fixation(sensitivity 0.900,specificity 0.906,area under curve:0.926).(6)It is indicated that the treatment of congenital scoliosis with one-stage posterior hemivertebrae resection and pedicle nail fixation can achieve satisfactory orthopedic effect.Postoperative lowest instrumented vertebra tilt greater than 8.14° was an independent risk factor for postoperative coronal decompensation.

Objective:To examine the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Mentalization Questionnaire(MZQ)in a sample of Chinese college students.Methods:Totally 3 985 college students were select-ed and randomly divided into Sample 1(n=1 992)and Sample 2(n=1 993).Sample 1 was used to test explorato-ry factor analysis,Sample 2 was used to test criterion-related validity and internal consistency reliability.Totally 596 students were randomly selected from Sample 2,which was subjected to validation factor analysis.After 1 week of initial testing,85 individuals were randomly selected from the total sample for retesting.The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire(RFQ-8)was used to test criterion-related validity.Results:Multiple exploratory factor analyses were conducted on the single-factor structure,and 9 items were finally retained.Validation factor analyses indicated a good fit of the single-factor structure(x2=131.01,x2/df=4.83,P＜0.001,NFI=0.94,CFI=0.95,GFI=0.95,IFI=0.95,TLI=0.93,RMSEA=0.08).The Chinese version of the MZQ scores were negatively correlated with the RFQ-C scores(r=-0.59,P＜0.01),and positively correlated with the RFQ-U scores(r=0.28,P＜0.01).The Cronbach α coefficient of the Chinese version of MZQ was 0.89,and the retest reliability(ICC)was 0.82.Conclusion:The Chinese version of the Mentalization Questionnaire(MZQ)has ideal validity and reliability in Chinese college students.

Objective:To examine the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Mentalization Questionnaire(MZQ)in a sample of Chinese college students.Methods:Totally 3 985 college students were select-ed and randomly divided into Sample 1(n=1 992)and Sample 2(n=1 993).Sample 1 was used to test explorato-ry factor analysis,Sample 2 was used to test criterion-related validity and internal consistency reliability.Totally 596 students were randomly selected from Sample 2,which was subjected to validation factor analysis.After 1 week of initial testing,85 individuals were randomly selected from the total sample for retesting.The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire(RFQ-8)was used to test criterion-related validity.Results:Multiple exploratory factor analyses were conducted on the single-factor structure,and 9 items were finally retained.Validation factor analyses indicated a good fit of the single-factor structure(x2=131.01,x2/df=4.83,P＜0.001,NFI=0.94,CFI=0.95,GFI=0.95,IFI=0.95,TLI=0.93,RMSEA=0.08).The Chinese version of the MZQ scores were negatively correlated with the RFQ-C scores(r=-0.59,P＜0.01),and positively correlated with the RFQ-U scores(r=0.28,P＜0.01).The Cronbach α coefficient of the Chinese version of MZQ was 0.89,and the retest reliability(ICC)was 0.82.Conclusion:The Chinese version of the Mentalization Questionnaire(MZQ)has ideal validity and reliability in Chinese college students.

BACKGROUND:Hemivertebra deformity should be treated surgically at an early age,but the risk factors for progression of deformity after hemivertebral resection have not been established.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the curative effect of one-stage posterior hemivertebrae resection and pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of congenital scoliosis,and to further explore the risk factors causing the progression of postoperative deformity.METHODS:The medical records of patients who underwent pedicle screw-rod fixation for unilateral hemivertebral deformity from January 2012 to February 2020 and were followed up for at least 2 years were retrospectively analyzed,and a total of 116 patients met the inclusion criteria.All patients were treated with standing anterior and lateral spinal radiographs taken before,after and at each follow-up time point.The segment Cobb angle,the total scoliosis Cobb angle,the proximal complementary Cobb angle,the distal complementary Cobb angle,and the coronal balance distance,apical vertebra distance,upper instrumented vertebra tilt,upper instrumented vertebra disc angle,lower instrumented vertebra tilt,lower instrumented vertebra disc angle,segmental kyphosis/lordosis,thoracic kyphosis,lumbar lordosis and sagittal vertical axis were measured.The progression of deformity and complications were also recorded.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Segment Cobb,total scoliosis Cobb,segmental kyphosis,proximal complementary Cobb,and distal complementary Cobb were significantly corrected after operation(P＜0.05),and remained corrected at the last follow-up.Thoracic kyphosis,lumbar lordosis,coronal balance distance,and sagittal vertical axis were all in the normal range pre-operation,after operation and at the last follow-up.(2)During follow-up,10 patients developed coronary decompensation,which was characterized by abnormal progression.(3)Independent sample t-test showed that preoperative total scoliosis Cobb,preoperative apical vertebra distance,age,Risser sign,postoperative upper instrument vertebra tilt and postoperative lowest instrumented vertebra tilt were correlated with postoperative malformation progression(P＜0.05).(4)Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that postoperative lowest instrumented vertebra tilt was an independent risk factor for postoperative malformation progression(P=0.002,OR=1.526).(5)Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a postoperative lowest instrumented vertebra tilt of 8.14° was the optimal threshold for deformity progression after hemivertebrae resection and pedicle rod fixation(sensitivity 0.900,specificity 0.906,area under curve:0.926).(6)It is indicated that the treatment of congenital scoliosis with one-stage posterior hemivertebrae resection and pedicle nail fixation can achieve satisfactory orthopedic effect.Postoperative lowest instrumented vertebra tilt greater than 8.14° was an independent risk factor for postoperative coronal decompensation.

BACKGROUND:There is controversy regarding the need for marrow reaming in intertrochanteric fractures of the femur.Some believe that unreaming shortens operative time,reduces bleeding,and decreases intraoperative risk in elderly patients,but there is no basis for whether this move reduces the effectiveness of intramedullary nail support.Others believe that reaming allows for the selection of thicker diameter intramedullary nails for better mechanical support,but basic studies have shown that this approach carries risks such as fat embolism and destruction of bone(especially in elderly patients with osteoporosis). OBJECTIVE:To analyze the mechanical distribution characteristics of reamed and unreamed proximal femoral nail antirotation-Ⅱ in the treatment of type 31-A3 intertrochanteric fractures by finite element analysis. METHODS:A healthy volunteer was included,and CT scans of his femur were obtained in DICOM format,and the files were sequentially imported into Mimics,Geomagic Wrap,SolidWorks,Hypermesh,and Ansys software for processing.The A3.1,A3.2,and A3.3 intertrochanteric fracture models were obtained and assembled with 9 mm,11 mm diameter,and 170 mm length intramedullary nails,respectively,followed by assigning material properties,setting the interaction relationship of each contact surface and defining the load and boundary conditions,and then solved.The femoral stress distribution,internal fixation stress distribution,femoral displacement,and internal fixation displacement were observed in different models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The femoral stress was less than that of unreamed intramedullary nail fixation for each type of fracture,and the maximum stress value of the femur for A3.3 fracture was greater than that of A3.1 and A3.2.(2)The internal fixation stress was greater than that of unreamed intramedullary nail fixation for each type of fracture,and the maximum stress value of internal fixation for A3.3 fracture was greater than that of A3.1.(3)Reamed versus unreamed intramedullary nailing has less effect on femoral and internal fixation displacement and more effect on stress.(4)It is indicated that the use of reamed intramedullary nail fixation results in a reduction in femoral stress,an increase in the stress borne by the internal fixation as a whole,and a reduction in the stress borne by the distal locking nail.The use of reamed intramedullary nail fixation may provide better treatment results compared to unreamed intramedullary nail fixation.

Objective : To investigate the clinical and molecular epidemiological characteristics of 10 patients with enterovirus (EV)-D68 infections in the respiratory tract in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide insights into formulation of control interventions for EV-D68 infections. Methods: Clinical specimens were sampled from patients with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) admitted to sentinel hospitals in Shaoxing City from 2021 to 2022, and EV-D68 was detected using real-time fluorescent PCR assay and sequencing of the VP1 region of enterovirus. The epidemiological and etiological characteristics of EV-D68 infected cases were descriptively analyzed. Results: A total of 3 009 specimens were sampled from patients with ARTIs from 2021 to 2022, and the detection of EV-D68 was 0.33%. Of all EV-D68-infected patients, there were 6 men and 4 women, and 5 cases under 18 years of age, 2 cases at ages of 18 to 60 years and 3 cases at ages of over 60 years. EV-D68 infection predominantly occurred in summer (5 cases detected between May and July) and autumn (5 cases detected between September and October). The main clinical symptoms included fever (10 cases), sore throat (9 cases) and cough (8 cases), and all 10 cases recovered well, with no deaths reported. Sequencing identified D3 subtype in all 10 specimens positive for EV-D68. Conclusions The ARTIs caused by EV-D68 occurred predominantly among children under 18 years of age in Shaoxing City, and was highly prevalent in summer and autumn. D3 was the predominant enterovirus subtype.

Objective:To compare the differences in the prevalence of mild micro-hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) among patients with cirrhosis by using the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) and the Stroop smartphone application (Encephal App) test.Methods:This prospective, multi-center, real-world study was initiated by the National Clinical Medical Research Center for Infectious Diseases and the Portal Hypertension Alliance and registered with International ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05140837). 354 cases of cirrhosis were enrolled in 19 hospitals across the country. PHES (including digital connection tests A and B, digital symbol tests, trajectory drawing tests, and serial management tests) and the Stroop test were conducted in all of them. PHES was differentiated using standard diagnostic criteria established by the two studies in China and South Korea. The Stroop test was evaluated based on the criteria of the research and development team. The impact of different diagnostic standards or methods on the incidence of MHE in patients with cirrhosis was analyzed. Data between groups were differentiated using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ2 test. A kappa test was used to compare the consistency between groups. Results:After PHES, the prevalence of MHE among 354 cases of cirrhosis was 78.53% and 15.25%, respectively, based on Chinese research standards and Korean research normal value standards. However, the prevalence of MHE was 56.78% based on the Stroop test, and the differences in pairwise comparisons among the three groups were statistically significant (kappa = -0.064, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis revealed that the MHE prevalence in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C was 74.14%, 83.33%, and 88.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Chinese researchers, while the MHE prevalence rates in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C were 8.29%, 23.53%, and 38.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Korean researchers. Furthermore, the prevalence rates of MHE in the three groups of patients with Child-Pugh grades A, B, and C were 52.68%, 58.82%, and 73.53%, respectively, according to the Stroop test standard. However, among the results of each diagnostic standard, the prevalence of MHE showed an increasing trend with an increasing Child-Pugh grade. Further comparison demonstrated that the scores obtained by the number connection test A and the number symbol test were consistent according to the normal value standards of the two studies in China and South Korea ( Z = -0.982, -1.702; P = 0.326, 0.089), while the other three sub-tests had significant differences ( P < 0.001). Conclusion:The prevalence rate of MHE in the cirrhotic population is high, but the prevalence of MHE obtained by using different diagnostic criteria or methods varies greatly. Therefore, in line with the current changes in demographics and disease spectrum, it is necessary to enroll a larger sample size of a healthy population as a control. Moreover, the establishment of more reliable diagnostic scoring criteria will serve as a basis for obtaining accurate MHE incidence and formulating diagnosis and treatment strategies in cirrhotic populations.

Lipid Droplets/metabolism* ; Bacteria ; Lipid Metabolism