A 20-year-old male patient presented to the Department of Dermatology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital with complaints of an 8-year history of facial scarring, swelling of the lower limbs, and a 4-year history of scalp thickening. Physical examination showed thickening furrowing wrinkling of the skin on the face and behind the ears, ciliary body hirsutism, blepharoptosis, and cutis verticis gyrate. Both lower limbs were swollen, especially the knees and ankles. The skin of the palms and soles of the feet was keratinized and thickened. Laboratory examination using bone and joint X-ray showed periostosis of the proximal middle phalanges and metacarpals of both hands, distal ulna and radius, tibia and fibula, distal femurs, and metatarsals.Genetic testing revealed two variants in SLCO2A1, c.1658T > A and c.96+4A > C.Through multidisciplinary consultation, we confirmed the diagnosis of pachydermoperiostosis.

ObjectiveThe rapid advancement of bioanalytical technologies has heightened the demand for high-throughput, label-free, and real-time cellular analysis. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) operating in the GHz frequency range (GHz-EIS) has emerged as a promising tool for characterizing cell suspensions due to its ability to rapidly and non-invasively capture the dielectric properties of cells and their microenvironment. Although GHz-EIS enables rapid and label-free detection of cell suspensions, significant challenges remain in interpreting GHz impedance data for complex samples, limiting the broader application of this technique in cellular research. To address these challenges, this study presents a novel method that integrates GHz-EIS with deep learning algorithms, aiming to improve the precision of cell suspension concentration identification and quantification. This method provides a more efficient and accurate solution for the analysis of GHz impedance data. MethodsThe proposed method comprises two key components: dielectric property dataset construction and backpropagation (BP) neural network modeling. Yeast cell suspensions at varying concentrations were prepared and separately introduced into a coaxial sensor for impedance measurement. The dielectric properties of these suspensions were extracted using a GHz-EIS dielectric property extraction method applied to the measured impedance data. A dielectric properties dataset incorporating concentration labels was subsequently established and divided into training and testing subsets. A BP neural network model employing specific activation functions (ReLU and Leaky ReLU) was then designed. The model was trained and tested using the constructed dataset, and optimal model parameters were obtained through this process. This BP neural network enables automated extraction and analytical processing of dielectric properties, facilitating precise recognition of cell suspension concentrations through data-driven training. ResultsThrough comparative analysis with conventional centrifugal methods, the recognized concentration values of cell suspensions showed high consistency, with relative errors consistently below 5%. Notably, high-concentration samples exhibited even smaller deviations, further validating the precision and reliability of the proposed methodology. To benchmark the recognition performance against different algorithms, two typical approaches—support vector machines (SVM) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN)—were selected for comparison. The proposed method demonstrated superior performance in quantifying cell concentrations. Specifically, the BP neural network achieved a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 2.06% and an R² value of 0.997 across the entire concentration range, demonstrating both high predictive accuracy and excellent model fit. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that the proposed method enables accurate and rapid determination of unknown sample concentrations. By combining GHz-EIS with BP neural network algorithms, efficient identification of cell concentrations is achieved, laying the foundation for the development of a convenient online cell analysis platform and showing significant application prospects. Compared to typical recognition approaches, the proposed method exhibits superior capabilities in recognizing cell suspension concentrations. Furthermore, this methodology not only accelerates research in cell biology and precision medicine but also paves the way for future EIS biosensors capable of intelligent, adaptive analysis in dynamic biological research.

The Chinese Pharmacopoeia is the legal technical standard which should be followed during the research, production, use, and administration of drugs. At present, the new edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia is planned to be promulgated and implemented. This article summarizes and analyzes the main characteristics and the content of updates and amendments of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition(Volume Ⅰ), to provide a reference for the correct understanding and accurate implementation the new edition of the pharmacopoeia.

Background::Gastric cancer (GC), a malignant tumor with poor prognosis, is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide; consequently, identifying novel therapeutic targets is crucial for its corresponding treatment. NUF2, a component of the NDC80 kinetochore complex, promotes cancer progression in multiple malignancies. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential of NUF2 as a therapeutic target to inhibit GC progression. Methods::Clinical samples were obtained from patients who underwent radical resection of GC at Lanzhou University Second Hospital from 2016 to 2021. Cell count assays, colony formation assays, and cell-derived xenotransplantation (CDX) models were used to determine the effects of NUF2 on GC progression. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of NUF2 or quercetin on cell cycle progression and apoptosis. A live-cell time-lapse imaging assay was performed to determine the effect of NUF2 on the regulation of mitotic progression. Transcriptomics was used to investigate the NUF2-associated molecular mechanisms. Virtual docking and microscale thermophoresis were used to identify NUF2 inhibitors. Finally, CDX, organoid, and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were used to examine the efficacy of the NUF2 inhibitor in GC. Results::NUF2 expression was significantly increased in GC and was negatively correlated with prognosis. The deletion of NUF2 suppressed GC progression both in vivo and in vitro. NUF2 significantly regulated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, promoted G2/M phase transition, and inhibited apoptosis in GC cells. Additionally, quercetin was identified as a selective NUF2 inhibitor with low toxicity that significantly suppressed tumor growth in GC cells, organoids, CDX, and PDX models. Conclusions::Collectively, NUF2-mediated G2/M phase transition and apoptosis inhibition promoted GC progression; additionally, NUF2 inhibitors exhibited potent anti-GC activity. This study provides a new strategy for targeting NUF2 to suppress GC progression in clinical settings.

Objective To investigate the effects of the physical parameters of radiotherapy and intestinal flora on the risk of secondary radiation enteritis(RE)in patients with abdominal malignant tumors.Methods Ninety-eight patients with malignant abdominal tumors who were treated with radiotherapy from April 2020 to August 2023 at Anyang District Hospital in Puyang City were selected and assigned to the RE group(n=26)or the non-RE group(n=72).The clinical data,physical parameters of radiotherapy,and changes in the intes-tinal flora were compared between the two groups.Pearson's correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between the phy-sical parameters of radiotherapy and changes in the intestinal flora,and logistic analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the physical parameters of radiotherapy,changes in the intestinal flora,and risk of RE.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and the area under the curve(AUC)were used to analyze the physical parameters of radiotherapy and changes in intestinal flora in predicting risk of RE.Results The doses of V20,V40,and D2cc in the small intestine,D2cc in the rectum,and D2cc in the colon were higher in the RE group than in the non-RE group(P＜0.05).The α diversity Chao1 index,Shannon index,and Simpson index of the intestinal flora in the RE group were lower than in the non-RE group,at the third week of radiotherapy,and the decrease in the α diversity Chao1 index,Shannon index,and Simpson index of the intestinal flora in the RE group was greater than in the non-RE group,before and after radiotherapy(P＜0.05).The doses of V20,V40,and D2cc in the small intestine,D2cc in the rectum,and D2cc in the colon were posi-tively correlated with decreases in the α diversity Chao 1 index,Shannon index,and Simpson index of the intestinal flora,before and after radiotherapy(P＜0.05).The logistic analysis showed that the decrease in V20,V40,and D2cc in the small intestine,D2cc in the rectum,D2cc in the colon,α diversity Chao1 index,Shannon index,and Simpson index of the intestinal flora were independent risk factors for occurrence of RE(P＜0.05).The AUC of the physical parameters of radiotherapy and changes in intestinal flora combined to predict the risk of RE as 0.920,which was greater than that of each indicator alone.Conclusion The physical parameters of radiotherapy are closely related to the changes of intestinal flora in patients with malignant abdominal tumors,which,in combination,can increase the risk of RE,and have a high predictive value for the risk of RE.

Objective:To investigate phenotype and function of IL-17A-expressing CD8+T cells(i.e.Tc17 cells)in early stage of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI).Methods:Blood leukocytes were harvested from healthy donors and STEMI patients,and Tc17 cells were recognized by flow cytometry based on expressions of CCR6,CD161,CCR5,IL-23R and RORγt.Activation status,cytokine expression profiles and proliferation of Tc17 cells were evaluated by flow cytometry.Results:CCR6+CD161+CD8+T cells,either in healthy donors or STEMI patients,highly expressed CCR5,IL-23R and RORγt.Therefore,they were identified as Tc17 cells.Compared with healthy donors,frequency of Tc17 cells in total CD8+T cells was increased in STEMI patients.Besides,phenotype of Tc17 cells in STEMI patients was more skewed towards effector memory T cells.Tc17 cells in healthy donors predominantly expressed IL-17A and IL-22,whereas Tc17 cells in STEMI patients expressed IL-10 and TGF-β in addition to IL-17A and IL-22.However,Tc17 cells,either in healthy donors or STEMI patients,did not express IFN-γ,IL-5,Foxp3,and Ki67.Conclu-sion:In early stage of STEMI,Tc17 cells up-regulate IL-10 and TGF-β expressions while producing IL-17A and IL-22,probably participate in and regulate post-STEMI acute inflammation.

Objective:To investigate the effect of TLK2 expression regulated by miR-21 on proliferation and apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia cells.Methods:Seventy patients with AML admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to July 2022 were selected,while 30 patients with iron deficiency anemia were selected as the control group.Bone marrow mononuclear cells(BMMNCs)of the patients were obtained using Ficoll density gradient centrifugation.RT-qPCR was used to determine the expression levels of miR-21 and TLK2 mRNA in BMMNCs.Mimics-miR-21,mimics-NC,inhibitor-miR-21,inhibitor-NC and NC were transfected into HL-60 cells using liposome-mediated transfection technology.CCK-8 method was used to determine the activity of transfected HL-60 cells after treatment with cytarabine.The apoptosis rate of HL-60 transfected cells was determined by TUNEL method.The expression of TLK2 mRNA in HL-60 cells transfected with inhibitor-miR-21 was determined by RT-qPCR.Results:The relative expression levels of miR-21 and TLK2 mRNA in BMMNCs of AML patients were significantly higher than those of controls(both P＜0.05).After HL-60 cells were treated with cytarabine,both the cell activity of inhibitor-miR-21 group and mimics-miR-21 group decreased significantly with the increase of cytarabine concentration(both P＜0.05).However,at each concentration point of cytarabine,the cell activity of inhibitor-miR-21 group was lower than that of control group(P＜0.05),while mimics-miR-21 group was higher than control group(P＜0.05).After HL-60 cells were treated with cytarabine,the apoptosis rate of inhibitor-miR-21 group was significantly increased(P＜0.05),while that of mimics-miR-21 group was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).After HL-60 cells were treated with inhibitor-miR-21,the relative expression of TLK2 mRNA decreased significantly(P＜0.05).Conclusion:miR-21 is highly expressed in AML patients,which may promote the apoptosis of AML cells by inhibiting the expression of TLK2.

The risks related to the essential performance were analyzed with considerations on the concept of the essential performance in GB 9706.1-2020 Medical electrical equipment-Part 1:General requirements for basic safety and essential performance,and the determination process for the essential performance of medical electrical equipment was summarized.The essential performance of the example equipment was clarified with the semi-quantitative risk analysis,and the influences of the arrangement of the electromagnetic compatibility test on the determination of the essential performance were explored with the conducted immunity test and conventional test.References were provided for standard users to understand and determine the essential performance effectively.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(11):72-76]

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of segmental decompression combined with corrective short-segment fusion surgery for the treatment of degenerative lumbar scoliosis.Methods In total,124 patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis were selected and divided into short-and long-segment fusion groups using the random number table method,with 62 patients in each group.Posterior short-segment decompression,fixation,and fusion were performed in the short-segment fusion group;the fusion segment was the adjacent lumbar vertebra.Posterior long-segment decompression,fixation,and fusion were performed in the long-segment fusion group;the fusion segments included multiple adjacent lumbar vertebrae.At the 6th month after surgery,the coronal Cobb angle of lumbar convexity,sagittal Cobb angle of lumbar lordosis,intervertebral foramen height,intervertebral space height,intervertebral foramen area,spinal canal area,spinal canal diameter,Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA)score,Oswestry Disability Index(ODI),degree of pain in the lower back and lower limbs,and postoperative complications were compared between the groups.Results The Cobb angle of the coronal lumbar scoliosis in the short-and long-segment fusion groups was significantly higher than that before surgery(P<0.05).At the 6th month after surgery,the intervertebral foramen height,intervertebral space height,intervertebral foramen area,spinal canal area,and spinal canal diameter in both groups increased,and those in the short-segment fusion group were higher than those in the long-segment fusion group(P<0.05);at the 6th month after the operation,the JOA scores of the short-segment and long-segment fusion groups were higher than those before surgery,and the JOA score of the short-segment fusion group was higher than that of the long-segment fusion group(P<0.05).The ODI score was lower than that before surgery in the short-and long-segment fusion groups,and the ODI score in the short-segment fusion group was lower than that in the long-segment fusion group(P<0.05).At the 6th month after surgery,the pain scores of the lower back and lower limbs in the short-and long-segment fusion groups were significantly higher than those before surgery(P<0.05).There were two cases of dural tears during decompression caused by lamina dura adhesion in the long-segment fusion group,and no serious complications were observed in the short-segment fusion group.Conclusions Both short-and long-segment decompression fixation fusion using a posterior approach can achieve good therapeutic effects for treating degenerative lumbar scoliosis.However,compared to the long-segment fusion group,the short-segment fusion group undergoing short-segment decompression fixation fusion through a posterior approach had a shorter surgical period,lower intraoperative blood loss,better recovery of lumbar function,and a lower risk of postoperative complications.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]