Objective: To investigate the efficacy，safety and feasibility of regional lymph node dissection in laparoscopic radical surgery for bladder cancer under the guidance of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging. Methods: A total of 30 patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (T2/T3NxM0) who volunteered to enter the clinical trial were randomly divided into the indocyanine green imaging guided laparoscopic regional lymph node dissection group (n=15) and the standard pelvic lymph node dissection group (n=15).The number of positive lymph nodes，operation time，intraoperative bleeding volume，incidence of lymph leakage，and tumor recurrence and metastasis rate 2-year after surgery were collected. Results: The number of positive lymph nodes was (4.20±1.66) and (4.60±1.72) respectively in the indocyanine green and standard groups，with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05).There were no statistically significant difference in the tumor recurrence and metastasis rates 2-year after surgery between the two groups (P>0.05).However，the indocyanine green group had shorter operation time，less intraoperative bleeding volume，and lower incidence of lymphatic leakage than the standard group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging guided laparoscopic lymph node dissection has comparable clinical efficacy to standard lymph node dissection，but with fewer complications.

Objective To investigate the suitable habitats of Phlebotomus chinensis in Gansu Province, so as provide insights into effective management of mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (MT-ZVL). Methods The geographical coordinates of locations where MT-ZVL cases were reported were retrieved in Gansu Province from 2015 to 2023, and data pertaining to 26 environmental variables were captured, including 19 climatic variables (annual mean temperature, mean diurnal range, isothermality, temperature seasonality, maximum temperature of the warmest month, minimum temperature of the coldest month, temperature annual range, mean temperature of the wettest quarter, mean temperature of the driest quarter, mean temperature of the warmest quarter, mean temperature of the coldest quarter, annual precipitation, precipitation of the wettest month, precipitation of the driest month, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of the wettest quarter, precipitation of the driest quarter, precipitation of the warmest quarter, and precipitation of the coldest quarter), five geographical variables (elevation, annual normalized difference vegetation index, vegetation type, landform type and land use type), and two population and economic variables (population distribution and gross domestic product). Twelve species distribution models were built using the biomod2 package in R project, including surface range envelope (SRE) model, generalized linear model (GLM), generalized additive model (GAM), multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) model, generalized boosted model (GBM), classification tree analysis (CTA) model, flexible discriminant analysis (FDA) model, maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model, optimized maximum entropy (MAXNET) model, artificial neural network (ANN) model, random forest (RF) model, and extreme gradient boosting (XGBOOST) model. The performance of 12 models was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), true skill statistics (TSS), and Kappa coefficient, and single models with high performance was selected to build the optimal ensemble models. Factors affecting the survival of Ph. chinensis were identified based on climatic, geographical, population and economic variables. In addition, the suitable distribution areas of Ph. chinensis were predicted in Gansu Province under shared socioeconomic pathway 126 (SSP126), SSP370 and SSP585 scenarios based on climatic data during the period from 1991 to 2020, from 2041 to 2060 (2050s), and from 2081 to 2100 (2090s) . Results A total of 11 species distribution models were successfully built for prediction of potential distribution areas of Ph. chinensis in Gansu Province, and the RF model had the highest predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.998). The ensemble model built based on the RF model, XGBOOST model, GLM, and MARS model had an increased predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.999) relative to single models. Among the 26 environmental factors, precipitation of the wettest quarter (12.00%), maximum temperature of the warmest month (11.58%), and annual normalized difference vegetation index (11.29%) had the greatest contributions to suitable habitats distribution of Ph. sinensis. Under the climatic conditions from 1991 to 2020, the potential suitable habitat area for Ph. chinensis in Gansu Province was approximately 5.80 × 10⁴ km², of which the highly suitable area was 1.42 × 10⁴ km², and primarily concentrated in the southernmost region of Gansu Province. By the 2050s, the unsuitable and lowly suitable areas for Ph. chinensis in Gansu Province had decreased by varying degrees compared to that of 1991 to 2020 period, while the moderately and highly suitable areas exhibited expansion and migration. By the 2090s, under the SSP126 scenario, the suitable habitat area for Ph. chinensis increased significantly, and under the SSP585 scenario, the highly suitable areas transformed into extremely suitable areas, also showing substantial growth. Future global warming is conducive to the survival and reproduction of Ph. chinensis. From the 2050s to the 2090s, the highly suitable areas for Ph. chinensis in Gansu Province will be projected to expand northward. Under the SSP126 scenario, the suitable habitat area for Ph. chinensis in Gansu Province is expected to increase by 194.75% and 204.79% in the 2050s and 2090s, respectively, compared to that of the 1991 to 2020 period. Under the SSP370 scenario, the moderately and highly suitable areas will be projected to increase by 164.40% and 209.03% in the 2050s and 2090s, respectively, while under the SSP585 scenario, they are expected to increase by 195.98% and 211.66%, respectively. Conclusions The distribution of potential suitable habitats of Ph. sinensis gradually shifts with climatic changes. Intensified surveillance and management of Ph. sinensis is recommended in central and eastern parts of Gansu Province to support early warning of MT-ZVL.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of stuck acupuncture combined with facial acupuncture for facial cosmetology. METHODS: A total of 22 female patients with symptoms of facial aging were treated with stuck acupuncture combined with facial acupuncture. Stuck acupuncture was applied at bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN5) through Xiaguan (ST7), Jiache (ST6) through Daying (ST5) and Yingxiang (LI20)，once a week. Facial acupuncture was applied at Yintang (GV24⁺), ashi points (nasolabial fold) and bilateral Yangbai (GB14), Quanliao (SI18), Sibai (ST2), Xiaguan (ST7), Dicang (ST4), Jiache (ST6), Daying (ST5), Renying (ST9), twice a week. Four weeks were required. The global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS) score after treatment, wrinkle severity rating scale (WSRS) score before and after treatment were observed. The quantitative analysis of skin characteristics was performed before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, of the 22 patients, 3 cases had complete improvement, 15 cases had obvious improvement, 4 cases had partial improvement, 0 case had no improvement. The WSRS score and scores of wrinkles, textures and pores were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Stuck acupuncture combined with facial acupuncture could effectively improve the symptoms of facial aging.
Humans ; Female ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Face ; Acupuncture Points ; Skin Aging ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged

Based on the theory of the five-body constituents from Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic), the approach and methods of acupuncture for facial aging are explored. Acupuncture for facial aging can be guided by the concept of the five-body constituents, targeting the facial "skin, flesh, vessels, tendons, and bones", and utilizing five different types of needles-facial needles, needle knives, filiform needles, retaining needles, and elongated needles and filiform needles-to maximize their respective advantages in treating facial aging. Facial needles are applied to the "skin" by selecting facial acupoints or local ashi points (at wrinkle or pigmentation sites). Needle knives are used for the "flesh" to perform longitudinal dredging and transverse dissection of the facial muscle layers. Filiform needles target the "vessels" with needling at Renying (ST9) to improve facial complexion. Retaining needles act on the "tendons" with needling from Taiyang (EX-HN5) to Xiaguan (ST7), and Jiache (ST6) to Daying (ST5), using clockwise twisting to generate a retaining needle sensation and lifting to achieve an overall facial lifting effect.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Face ; Skin Aging ; Acupuncture Points ; Aging

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a hemorrhagic autoimmune disease characterized by antibody-mediated platelet injury. ITP has complicated immunopathological mechanisms that need further elucidation. It is well known that the costimulatory molecules OX40 ligand (OX40L) and OX40 play essential roles in the immunological mechanisms of autoimmune diseases. Previously, we discovered that the expression of OX40L and OX40 is significantly increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of ITP patients. In our present study, OX40L-induced follicular helper T (Tfh) cells exhibited an activated phenotype with elevated expression of inducible T-cell costimulator (ICOS), programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), and cluster of differentiation 40 ligand (CD40L) in vitro. Moreover, aberrant OX40L‒OX40 expression might promote the Tfh1-to-Tfh2 shift in vivo, inducing the generation of autoantibodies by enhancing the helper function of Tfh cells for B lymphocytes in a mouse model, which might accelerate the progression of ITP. Additionally, signal transduction through the OX40L‒OX40 axis might be related to the activation of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF)‒nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Janus kinase (JAK)‒signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathways. Overall, OX40L‒OX40 signaling is proposed as a potential novel therapeutic target for ITP.
Animals ; OX40 Ligand/physiology* ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/immunology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Mice ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/cytology* ; T Follicular Helper Cells/cytology* ; Signal Transduction ; Receptors, OX40 ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Female

Objective:To express,purify,prepare antibodies,and analyze the subcellular localization of Toxoplasma gondii thioredoxin 20(Trx20),and to provide the reference for the development of Toxoplasma gondii vaccine.Methods:Bioinformatics-related websites and software were used to perform bioinformatics analysis of the Trx20 protein;specific primers were designed to amplify the target fragment and construct the prokaryotic expression vector;the protein was expressed in vitro and purified;experimental animals were immunized to prepare antibodies;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method was used to detect the titer of the polyclonal antibodies;Western blotting method was used to verify the specificity and sensitivity of the antibodies and to determine the natural expression of the protein;immunofluorescence assay(IFA)was used to analyze the subcellular localization of the protein.Results:The bioinformatics analysis results showed that Trx20 protein was a relatively stable hydrophilic protein with a molecular formula of C2172H3412N548O616S20,containing 424 amino acids,a predicted relative molecular mass of 47 700,and a theoretical isoelectric point of 8.55;it was predicted that the protein had one signal peptide,no transmembrane region,contained one domain named"Thioredoxin like Superfamily",and had 35 phosphorylation sites,one N-glycosylation site,and 17 antigenic determinants;in the secondary structure,alpha-helices accounted for 41.51％of the total amino acids,and random coils accounted for 39.86％;the recombinant plasmids pET-28a-Trx20 and pGEX-4T-1-Trx20 were successfully constructed,and the soluble recombinant protein was expressed and purified;polyclonal antibodies were successfully prepared with a titer as high as 1:64 000,and they specifically recognized the endogenous Trx20 protein in Toxoplasma gondii;the subcellular localization results showed that Trx20 protein was widely distributed in the cytoplasm of the parasite.Conclusion:Toxoplasma gondii Trx20 protein is a secretory protein containing phosphorylation/glycosylation modification sites and a thioredoxin domain,and it is localized in the cytoplasm of the parasite.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of combined radiomic features derived from chest CT scans with clinical characteristics for epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)gene mutations in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods A multi-center case-control study was conducted on the clinical data and CT images of 1 070 NSCLC patients from the radiology departments of the 3 medical institutions between January 2013 and October 2023.The 719 NSCLC patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University were randomly divided into a training set and an internal validation set in a ratio of 7∶3;The 173 patients in the Eastern Theatre General Hospital and the 178 patients in Army Medical Centre of PLA were assigned into the external validation set 1 and 2,respectively.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression was employed to identify the optimal radiomic features,which were subsequently used to construct a radiomics model.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify clinical features associated with EGFR mutation,thereby developing a clinical model.The radiomic and clinical features were subsequently combined to develop a comprehensive model.All the 3 classification models were built using random forest(RF)machine learning.The area under curve(AUC),accuracy,sensitivity and specificity were utilized to evaluate the predictive performance of the models.Calibration curve was plotted to assess the goodness of fit of the comprehensive model,while decision curve analysis was performed to assess the clinical utility of the model.Results The AUC value of the radiomics model was 0.762 4(95%CI:0.692 4～0.825 1),0.745 4(95%CI:0.671 1～0.814 3),and 0.724 7(95%CI:0.639 7～0.801 6),respectively,in the internal validation set,external validation set 1,and external validation set 2;The AUC value of the clinical prediction model was 0.691 7(95%CI:0.627 9～0.757 6),0.652 5(95%CI:0.576 7～0.729 1),and 0.779 2(95%CI:0.712 5～0.847 3),respectively in the above sets in turn;The comprehensive model constructed based on clinical features and radiomic features showed the best predictive efficacy,with an AUC value of 0.818 0(95%CI:0.757 7～0.874 3),0.782 4(95%CI:0.703 1～0.848 2),and 0.796 6(95%CI:0.718 1～0.868 6),respectively in the above sets.Calibration curve analysis indicated that the comprehensive model had a good fit,while decision curve analysis revealed that the model provided a favorable net benefit.Conclusion Our comprehensive model constructed based on chest CT radiomic features and clinical characteristics shows superior predictive performance for EGFR gene mutations in NSCLC across multiple center datasets,which may be helpful for clinical decision-making for treatment strategies.

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of deep learning features from chest CT images combined with clinical and radiomics features for epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)mutations in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods This case-control study retrospectively analyzed clinical and imaging data of 1 070 NSCLC patients from radiology departments at three hospitals(January 2013 to October 2023).Patients were divided into:a training set(n=502)and internal validation set(n=217)via 7∶3 randomization of 719 cases from the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University;external validation set 1(n=173)from General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command;external validation set 2(n=178)from Daping Hospital of Army Medical University.Deep learning features were extracted using a 2.5D convolutional neural network(CNN)with ResNet101 backbone,radiomics features were derived from CT images,and clinical risk factors were identified to construct models.An integrated model combined deep learning,clinical,and radiomics features.All four models were developed using random forest(RF)classifiers.Calibration curves assessed goodness-of-fit,and decision curve analysis(DCA)evaluated clinical utility.Results The deep learning model achieved AUCs of 0.833 7(95%CI:0.770 6～0.884 7),0.815 1(0.741 6～0.882 8),and 0.810 1(0.745 2～0.873 6)in the internal and two external validation sets,respectively.Clinical models yielded AUCs of 0.731 0(0.660 2～0.802 1),0.746 0(0.666 4～0.824 9),and 0.813 4(0.743 1～0.883 6);radiomics models showed AUCs of 0.762 4(0.692 4～0.825 1),0.745 4(0.671 1～0.814 3),and 0.724 7(0.639 7～0.801 6).The integrated model demonstrated optimal performance with AUCs of 0.905 5(0.857 0～0.945 4),0.832 7(0.763 3～0.896 4),and 0.889 0(0.834 4～0.934 3).DCA indicated significant net benefit for EGFR prediction at threshold probabilities of 0.15～0.85 using the integrated model.Conclusion Deep learning features from CT images effectively predict EGFR mutation status in NSCLC.The integrated model combining deep learning,clinical,and radiomics features further enhances predictive performance.

Objective To investigate the number, distribution, and types of radiation of non-medical radiation institutions in Hebei Province, China, and to explore the current radiation protection in the employing units and occupational health management of radiation workers in 2022. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted in the non-medical institutions engaged in nuclear technology application in Hebei Province, and different types of employing units were selected to monitor the radioactivity level in the workplace. Results A total of 681 non-medical institutions engaged in radiation technology application completed the survey, covering all cities with subordinate districts in the province, including 1605 radioactive devices, 2960 active devices, 45 non-uranium metal mines, and 14 non-sealed workplaces. A total of 8617 radiation workers were surveyed, with a personal dose monitoring rate of 70.9%, a radiation protection training rate of 61.1%, and an occupational health examination rate for radiation workers of 59.3%. A total of 614 radiation protection monitoring instruments were provided, with a personal protective equipment allocation rate of 51.1% and a personal dose alarm device allocation rate of 51.8%. The radiation occupational hazardous factor testing was completed for 54 workplaces, and the results were all qualified. Conclusion There are still significant deficiencies in personal dose monitoring in the radiation work units in non-medical institutions and occupational health examination in the radiation work units in our province. The health administrative departments should strengthen health supervision and law enforcement, enhance radiation protection and skill training for employers, and more effectively control the impact of radiation hazards on personnel health.