1.Clinical Efficacy and Economic Evaluation of 1293 Non-Severe Adult Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia Treated by the Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Dominant Diseases:A Multicenter,Retrospective Real-World Cohort Study
Ye MA ; Yeqing JI ; Zhichao WANG ; Fanchao FENG ; Mingzhi PU ; Hong LYU ; Xiaodong HU ; Gaohua FENG ; Xiaoqian FANG ; Guicai ZHANG ; Yanfen TANG ; Yeqing ZHANG ; Yao ZHUFU ; Wenpan PENG ; Hao WANG ; Cheng GU ; Zhichao ZHANG ; Shuang YANG ; Xinyu SUN ; Qi ZHAO ; Aojie GUO ; Xin TONG ; Zhuoyue WU ; Xiaoxiao WANG ; Jia LIU ; Hailang HE ; Xianmei ZHOU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):966-974
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and economic value of the Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Dominant Diseases (abbreviated as the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol) in adult patients with non-severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) based on real-world clinical data. MethodsA retrospective real-world cohort study was conducted using electronic medical records of adult patients hospitalized for non-severe CAP from September 1st, 2023 to December 31st, 2024 across 10 TCM hospitals in Jiangsu province. Patients were classified into an exposure group and a non-exposure group based on whether they received Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) according to the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol. The non-exposure group received only conventional western medicine, while the exposure group additionally received differentiated CHM for at least five consecutive days. Outcomes were compared between two patient groups, including cough resolution rate, sputum resolution rate (assessed by volume, color, and consistency), incidence of abnormal C-reactive protein (CRP), incidence of abnormal white blood cell (WBC) count, and radiographic resolution rate of pulmonary infiltrates on chest imaging. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing clinical efficacy. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age, gender, smoking status, history of hypertension, and pneumonia severity score (CURB-65), and the efficacy of treatment for cough and sputum was analyzed within each subgroup. Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using cough resolution rate as the outcome measure, evaluating the pharmacoeconomics of the two groups. ResultsA total of 1688 patients were included with 1293 in the exposure group and 395 in the non-exposure group. Compared to the non-exposure group, the exposure group demonstrated significantly higher resolution rates of cough, sputum volume, color, and consistency, as well as a significantly lower incidence of abnormal CRP (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of abnormal WBC count and radiographic resolution rate of pulmonary infiltrates (P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the cough resolution rate in the exposure group was 1.83 times that of the non-exposure group, while the probabilities of resolution in sputum volume, color, and consistency were 1.37, 2.09, and 1.56 times those of the non-exposure group, respectively (P<0.05). Subgroup analyses showed that the exposure group achieved significantly higher cough resolution rates across most subgroups except for populations with a CURB-65 score ≥2 or those with a history of hypertension (P<0.05). Specifically, among females, patients aged ≥18 and <65 years, non-smokers, those without hypertension, and those with a CURB-65 score of 0, the exposure group showed a higher cough resolution rate than the non-exposure group (P<0.05). From an economic perspective, total hospitalization cost, length of stay, antibiotic cost, and CHM cost all differed significantly between groups (P<0.05). The cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) was 10,788.80 CNY/case in the exposure group, while 22,513.80 CNY/case in the non-exposure group. This implies that, compared with the exposure group, the non-exposure group incurred an additional 17,302.27 CNY to achieve one case of cough resolution. When the willingness-to-pay threshold ranged from 0 to 50,000 CNY, the probability of economic advantage was consistently higher in the exposure group than in the non-exposure group. ConclusionOn the basis of conventional western medicine, the addition of CHM in accordance with the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol can effectively improve clinical symptoms, reduce inflammatory markers, promote clinical recovery, and is more cost-effective in treating adults with non-severe CAP.
2.Efficacy and Economic Evaluation of Weishi Qingjin Formula (苇石清金方)in the Treatment of Adult Community-Acquired Pneumonia with Phlegm-Heat Obstructing the Lung Syndrome:A Multicenter Retrospective Real-World Cohort Study
Yeqing JI ; Ye MA ; Zhichao WANG ; Fanchao FENG ; Mingzhi PU ; Hong LYU ; Xiaodong HU ; Gaohua FENG ; Xiaoqian FANG ; Guicai ZHANG ; Yanfen TANG ; Yeqing ZHANG ; Yao ZHUFU ; Wenpan PENG ; Hao WANG ; Cheng GU ; Zhichao ZHANG ; Shuang YANG ; Xinyu SUN ; Qi ZHAO ; Aojie GUO ; Xin TONG ; Zhuoyue WU ; Xiaoxiao WANG ; Jia LIU ; Hailang HE ; Xianmei ZHOU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):975-984
ObjectiveTo observe the real‑world effectiveness and economic outcomes of Weishi Qingjin Formula (苇石清金方, WQF) in the treatment of adult community‑acquired pneumonia (CAP) with phlegm‑heat obstructing the lung syndrome. MethodsBased on a multicenter, real-world retrospective cohort study, clinical data were collected from hospitalized adult patients diagnosed with non‑severe CAP and phlegm‑heat obstructing the lung syndrome in 10 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals in Jiangsu province. Patients were divided into an exposure group (those who received oral WQF) and a non‑exposure group (those who did not). The following outcomes were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, which were remission rates of clinical symptoms including cough, expectoration (sputum volume, color, consistency), and chest pain, levels of inflammatory markers including C‑reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC), and the rate of pulmonary inflammatory absorption on chest CT. Subgroup analyses were performed based on age, gender, smoking status, presence of hypertension, and the severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CURB‑65) score, comparing the two groups in terms of cough remission rate, chest pain remission rate, and chest CT absorption rate. For health economic evaluation, cost‑effectiveness analysis was used to calculate the cost‑effectiveness ratio (CER) and incremental cost‑effectiveness ratio (ICER). Univariate sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to test the robustness of the results. ResultsA total of 647 patients in the exposure group and 1491 patients in the non-exposure group were included in the final statistical analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in length of hospital stay, gender, marital status, smoking history, bronchoscopy history, and comorbidities between the groups (P>0.05), but age, CURB-65 score, and antibiotic use. The exposure group had significantly higher remission rates of cough and sputum consistency than the non-exposure group (P<0.05). After adjusting for confounders using propensity score matching and logistic regression, the cough remission rate in the exposure group was 1.49 times that of the non-exposure group (P<0.01). No significant difference was observed between groups in the reduction rates of CRP and WBC, and in the rate of pulmonary inflammatory absorption on chest CT (P>0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed that the cough remission rate in the exposure group was significantly better than that in the non-exposure group except for patients aged ≥65 years, smokers, hypertensive patients, those using other type antibiotics or not using antibiotics, and those with a CURB-65 score ≥1 (P<0.05). Among smokers, the chest pain remission rate in the exposure group was 4.38 times that of the non-exposure group (P<0.01). No significant difference in chest CT absorption rate was found between groups across subgroups of gender, age, hypertension status, or antibiotic type (P>0.05). In terms of economic evaluation, CER was 10,877.60 CNY/case in the exposure group and 16,773.10 CNY/case in the non-exposure group. Compared to the exposure group, the non-exposure group incurred an additional 15,034.26 CNY to achieve one case of cough resolution, indicating a more favorable cost-effectiveness profile. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis yielded results consistent with the cost-effectiveness analysis, confirming the robustness of the findings. ConclusionWQF demonstrates significant efficacy in improving cough symptoms in the treatment of adult CAP with phlegm-heat obstructing the lung syndrome, and also exhibits favorable economic benefits.
3.Clinical Efficacy and Economic Evaluation of 1293 Non-Severe Adult Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia Treated by the Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Dominant Diseases:A Multicenter,Retrospective Real-World Cohort Study
Ye MA ; Yeqing JI ; Zhichao WANG ; Fanchao FENG ; Mingzhi PU ; Hong LYU ; Xiaodong HU ; Gaohua FENG ; Xiaoqian FANG ; Guicai ZHANG ; Yanfen TANG ; Yeqing ZHANG ; Yao ZHUFU ; Wenpan PENG ; Hao WANG ; Cheng GU ; Zhichao ZHANG ; Shuang YANG ; Xinyu SUN ; Qi ZHAO ; Aojie GUO ; Xin TONG ; Zhuoyue WU ; Xiaoxiao WANG ; Jia LIU ; Hailang HE ; Xianmei ZHOU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):966-974
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and economic value of the Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Dominant Diseases (abbreviated as the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol) in adult patients with non-severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) based on real-world clinical data. MethodsA retrospective real-world cohort study was conducted using electronic medical records of adult patients hospitalized for non-severe CAP from September 1st, 2023 to December 31st, 2024 across 10 TCM hospitals in Jiangsu province. Patients were classified into an exposure group and a non-exposure group based on whether they received Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) according to the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol. The non-exposure group received only conventional western medicine, while the exposure group additionally received differentiated CHM for at least five consecutive days. Outcomes were compared between two patient groups, including cough resolution rate, sputum resolution rate (assessed by volume, color, and consistency), incidence of abnormal C-reactive protein (CRP), incidence of abnormal white blood cell (WBC) count, and radiographic resolution rate of pulmonary infiltrates on chest imaging. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing clinical efficacy. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age, gender, smoking status, history of hypertension, and pneumonia severity score (CURB-65), and the efficacy of treatment for cough and sputum was analyzed within each subgroup. Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using cough resolution rate as the outcome measure, evaluating the pharmacoeconomics of the two groups. ResultsA total of 1688 patients were included with 1293 in the exposure group and 395 in the non-exposure group. Compared to the non-exposure group, the exposure group demonstrated significantly higher resolution rates of cough, sputum volume, color, and consistency, as well as a significantly lower incidence of abnormal CRP (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of abnormal WBC count and radiographic resolution rate of pulmonary infiltrates (P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the cough resolution rate in the exposure group was 1.83 times that of the non-exposure group, while the probabilities of resolution in sputum volume, color, and consistency were 1.37, 2.09, and 1.56 times those of the non-exposure group, respectively (P<0.05). Subgroup analyses showed that the exposure group achieved significantly higher cough resolution rates across most subgroups except for populations with a CURB-65 score ≥2 or those with a history of hypertension (P<0.05). Specifically, among females, patients aged ≥18 and <65 years, non-smokers, those without hypertension, and those with a CURB-65 score of 0, the exposure group showed a higher cough resolution rate than the non-exposure group (P<0.05). From an economic perspective, total hospitalization cost, length of stay, antibiotic cost, and CHM cost all differed significantly between groups (P<0.05). The cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) was 10,788.80 CNY/case in the exposure group, while 22,513.80 CNY/case in the non-exposure group. This implies that, compared with the exposure group, the non-exposure group incurred an additional 17,302.27 CNY to achieve one case of cough resolution. When the willingness-to-pay threshold ranged from 0 to 50,000 CNY, the probability of economic advantage was consistently higher in the exposure group than in the non-exposure group. ConclusionOn the basis of conventional western medicine, the addition of CHM in accordance with the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol can effectively improve clinical symptoms, reduce inflammatory markers, promote clinical recovery, and is more cost-effective in treating adults with non-severe CAP.
4.Efficacy and Economic Evaluation of Weishi Qingjin Formula (苇石清金方)in the Treatment of Adult Community-Acquired Pneumonia with Phlegm-Heat Obstructing the Lung Syndrome:A Multicenter Retrospective Real-World Cohort Study
Yeqing JI ; Ye MA ; Zhichao WANG ; Fanchao FENG ; Mingzhi PU ; Hong LYU ; Xiaodong HU ; Gaohua FENG ; Xiaoqian FANG ; Guicai ZHANG ; Yanfen TANG ; Yeqing ZHANG ; Yao ZHUFU ; Wenpan PENG ; Hao WANG ; Cheng GU ; Zhichao ZHANG ; Shuang YANG ; Xinyu SUN ; Qi ZHAO ; Aojie GUO ; Xin TONG ; Zhuoyue WU ; Xiaoxiao WANG ; Jia LIU ; Hailang HE ; Xianmei ZHOU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):975-984
ObjectiveTo observe the real‑world effectiveness and economic outcomes of Weishi Qingjin Formula (苇石清金方, WQF) in the treatment of adult community‑acquired pneumonia (CAP) with phlegm‑heat obstructing the lung syndrome. MethodsBased on a multicenter, real-world retrospective cohort study, clinical data were collected from hospitalized adult patients diagnosed with non‑severe CAP and phlegm‑heat obstructing the lung syndrome in 10 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals in Jiangsu province. Patients were divided into an exposure group (those who received oral WQF) and a non‑exposure group (those who did not). The following outcomes were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, which were remission rates of clinical symptoms including cough, expectoration (sputum volume, color, consistency), and chest pain, levels of inflammatory markers including C‑reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC), and the rate of pulmonary inflammatory absorption on chest CT. Subgroup analyses were performed based on age, gender, smoking status, presence of hypertension, and the severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CURB‑65) score, comparing the two groups in terms of cough remission rate, chest pain remission rate, and chest CT absorption rate. For health economic evaluation, cost‑effectiveness analysis was used to calculate the cost‑effectiveness ratio (CER) and incremental cost‑effectiveness ratio (ICER). Univariate sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to test the robustness of the results. ResultsA total of 647 patients in the exposure group and 1491 patients in the non-exposure group were included in the final statistical analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in length of hospital stay, gender, marital status, smoking history, bronchoscopy history, and comorbidities between the groups (P>0.05), but age, CURB-65 score, and antibiotic use. The exposure group had significantly higher remission rates of cough and sputum consistency than the non-exposure group (P<0.05). After adjusting for confounders using propensity score matching and logistic regression, the cough remission rate in the exposure group was 1.49 times that of the non-exposure group (P<0.01). No significant difference was observed between groups in the reduction rates of CRP and WBC, and in the rate of pulmonary inflammatory absorption on chest CT (P>0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed that the cough remission rate in the exposure group was significantly better than that in the non-exposure group except for patients aged ≥65 years, smokers, hypertensive patients, those using other type antibiotics or not using antibiotics, and those with a CURB-65 score ≥1 (P<0.05). Among smokers, the chest pain remission rate in the exposure group was 4.38 times that of the non-exposure group (P<0.01). No significant difference in chest CT absorption rate was found between groups across subgroups of gender, age, hypertension status, or antibiotic type (P>0.05). In terms of economic evaluation, CER was 10,877.60 CNY/case in the exposure group and 16,773.10 CNY/case in the non-exposure group. Compared to the exposure group, the non-exposure group incurred an additional 15,034.26 CNY to achieve one case of cough resolution, indicating a more favorable cost-effectiveness profile. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis yielded results consistent with the cost-effectiveness analysis, confirming the robustness of the findings. ConclusionWQF demonstrates significant efficacy in improving cough symptoms in the treatment of adult CAP with phlegm-heat obstructing the lung syndrome, and also exhibits favorable economic benefits.
5.Pharmacological effects of Yindan Pinggan capsules in treating intrahepatic cholestasis
Shu-xin CAO ; Feng HUANG ; Fang WU ; Rong-rong HE
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):417-426
This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of Yindan Pinggan capsules (YDPG) on intrahepatic cholestasis (IHC) through animal experiments, while utilizing network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques to explore its potential mechanisms. Initially, the therapeutic effect of YDPG on an
6.Protective effect of basic alkaline ceramidase 1 in ulcerative colitis
Rongmao HE ; Zeyang FANG ; Yunyun ZHANG ; Youliang WU ; Shixiu LIANG ; Siqi WANG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(1):7-14
Objective To study the role and influence of basic Alkaline ceramidase 1 on mucosal barrier and immune regulation in ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods Acer1 knockout mice(Acer1 KO)were constructed,and the UC model was induced by continuous drinking water of sodium dextran sulfate(DSS)for 7 days,and the severity of symptoms of UC disease in C57 and Acer1 KO mice was compared.The expression levels of intestinal mucosal barriers(ZO-1,Occludin,Claudin,JAMA)were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.Systemic immune response levels(IL-1b、IL-6、IL-23、IL-17、IL-10,and TNF-a)were assessed by ELISA and intestinal inflammatory infiltration levels(TNF-a、IL-1b、IL-6、IL-17、IL-21,etc.)were assessed by RT-PCR.Results There was no significant difference between C57 and Acer1 KO mice in free drinking water.In the DSS induced UC model,compared with C57 mice,the survival rate of Acer1 KO mice decreased,the weight decreased significantly,the mechanical barrier and mucus barrier protein expression levels decreased significantly,the intes-tinal epithelial barrier was seriously damaged,the inflammatory response was strong,and the cytokine infiltration was obvious,with statistical differences(P<0.05).Conclusion Acer1 can inhibit inflammatory infiltration by maintaining the integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier,preventing endotoxin,and delaying the progression of UC.
7.Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting postoperative prognosis in gallbladder cancer patients based on the HALP score
Shujie HE ; Zhelong JIANG ; Lili WU ; Xuanhua LIN ; Lizhi LYU ; Yang CHENG ; Baipo ZHOU ; Fang YANG ; Jianwei CHEN
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery 2025;31(9):666-670
Objective:To analyze the effects of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet count (HALP) scores on the survival of gallbladder cancer patients after radical surgery, and to construct a prognostic prediction model and evaluate based on HALP scores.Methods:The clinical data of 95 patients with gallbladder cancer who underwent surgical treatment in Fuzong Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University (the 900th Hospital) from January 2010 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 40 males and 55 females, with the age of (63.3±12.2) years. All patients were divided into a low HALP group (HALP score ≤35.4, n=45) and a high HALP group (HALP score >35.4, n=50) based on the optimal cut-off value of 35.4 for predicting postoperative survival as determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Survival curves were plotted by the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival comparisons were performed using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to analyze the effect of HALP score on survival after radical surgery in patients with gallbladder cancer. Based on the multifactorial results, nomogram was constructed to predict the survival of gallbladder cancer patients after radical surgery, and ROC curves, consistency indexes were evaluated in the model. Results:A total of 95 patients were followed up for 1-150 months, with a median of 13 months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year postoperative cumulative survival rates of patients in the low HALP group were 56.2%, 31.2%, and 11.1%, respectively, which were lower than those of the high HALP group, which were 82.9%, 59.6%, and 40.7%, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=12.50, P<0.001). Based on multifactorial Cox regression analysis, preoperative total bilirubin ≥23 μmol/L, with lymph node metastasis, tumor TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, and postoperative incision infection were the risk factors for survival after radical surgery in patients with gallbladder cancer, and a HALP score of >35.4 and Child-Pugh A were protective factors (all P<0.05). Based on the results of multivariate Cox regression analysis to construct a nomogram for predicting overall survival after radical surgery in patients with gallbladder cancer, the consistency index between the prediction of the nomogram and the actual situation was 0.801 (95% CI: 0.752-0.850), and the area under the ROC curve for predicting overall survival was 0.812 (95% CI: 0.704-0.902). Conclusion:The preoperative high HALP score (HALP > 35.4) is a protective factor for survival after radical surgery in gallbladder cancer patients, and the nomogram constructed based on the HALP score for survival prediction after radical surgery for gallbladder cancer has high accuracy and can be used for the assessment of postoperative survival.
8.Human placental extracts negatively regulate LPS-induced microglial inflammatory responses through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway
Jingjing HE ; Tongqian WU ; Shirong YAN ; Shihui MO ; Jing LI ; Fang YU
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(10):2380-2385,2391
Objective:To explore the regulation and mechanism of human placental extract(HPE)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced BV2 microglial cell inflammation.Methods:Microglia cell lines(BV2)were cultured in vitro and divided into PBS group,HPE group,LPS group and LPS+HPE group.BV2 cell viability was measured by CCK-8 analysis.A fluorescent probe targeting reactive oxygen species(ROS)was to detect the level of intracellular ROS.The mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were detected by RT-qPCR.The supernatants of different treatment groups were collected.The content of nitric oxide(NO)was detected by the Griess method,and the secretion levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were detected by the flow magnetic bead microarray(CBA)method.The indirect contact co-culture system between BV2 and mouse hippocampal neurons cell line HT22 cells was established to evaluate the neurotoxicity of HPE by the assessment of the cell viability and apoptosis of HT22 cells using CCK-8 or flow cytometry.The potential signaling molecules of NF-κB signaling pathway was detected by flow cytometry.Results:Compared with the PBS group,1.2 μg/ml LPS and 50 ng/ml HPE significantly inhibited the activity of BV2 cells.Compared with the PBS group,the mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in BV2 cells of the LPS group were significantly increased(P<0.05),and the secretion levels of NO,TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6 in the supernatant were also significantly upregulated(P<0.05).The expressions of related signaling pathway molecules Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),pIκBα and pNF-κB p65 were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the LPS group,the mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in BV2 cells,the secretion levels of NO,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6,the neurotoxicity and neuronal apoptosis induced by microglial conditional medium,and the expressions of TLR4,pIκBα and pNF-κB p65 in the LPS+HPE group were significantly downregulate(P<0.05).Conclusion:HPE may alleviate the microglial inflammation,possibly through the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
9.Establishment of an immunoprecipitation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for detecting serum non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper and its clinical application
Junxia WU ; Yiru XU ; Qiang LU ; Yaping FANG ; Jianjian DONG ; Chenchen XU ; Zhichao HE
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;48(9):1215-1221
Objective:To establish a method for detecting serum non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper (NCC) by immunoprecipitation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IP-ICP-MS) and evaluate its clinical application.Methods:Methodological evaluation research. Immunoprecipitation was first used to separate serum ceruloplasmin, followed by detection of serum NCC levels using ICP-MS. Two levels of quality control serum were reconstituted to determine the limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), accuracy, and precision of the self-developed method. The serum samples of 131 healthy individuals (healthy group) and 69 first-time diagnosed Wilson′s disease (WD) patients(WD group) from November 2023 to June 2024 in the Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were collected. Using self-developed method detected the serum NCC levels, established the healthy reference intervals, and NCC levels between the two groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results:The calibration curve exhibited excellent lineary across the concentration range of 1.562 to 300.000 μg/L, as demonstrated by coefficient of determination ( R2) of 0.999. The self-developed NCC method exhibited that the LOD was 0.99 μg/L, the LOQ was 3.29 μg/L, the accuracy (spike and recovery experience) was 87.67%?106.27%, and the intra-batch and inter-batch imprecision expressed as coefficient of variation ( CV) was 2.8%?7.3%, and the healthy reference range was 34.31-71.79 μg/L. The serum NCC levels in the WD group were 102.39 (74.38, 144.04) μg/L, which was significantly higher than those in healthy group (51.45±10.34) μg/L ( Z=?7.967, P<0.01). Conclusions:The established IP-ICP-MS method for detecting serum NCC meets the required analytical performance criteria. It is simply operative, highly sensitive, and provides accurate and reliable results, which could be used for clinical detection.
10.Energy efficiency of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with TERT promoter mutation to construct a nomogram model for the prediction of concomitant cervical lymph node metastasis in PTMC
Chang-hui WU ; Zhiping HUANG ; Huiping DAI ; Huifang QIU ; Chun HE ; Fang TANG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(5):756-765
Objective The study aimed to investigate the predictive efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with telomerase reverse transcriptase(TERT)promoter mutation in constructing nomogram model for the prediction of concomitant cervical lymph node metastasis(CLNM)in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(pTMC).Methods A total of 202 patients with pTMC who underwent partial or total thyroidectomy+lymph node dissection at our hospital from January 2021 to March 2024 were selected.Then,they were divided into the CLNM group(97 patients)and the non-CLNM group(105 patients)according to whether they had concomitant CLNM on postoperative pathological examination.General data and ultrasound(conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound)characteristics were collected from all patients with pTMC,and Sanger sequencing was used to detect TERT promoter mutations.The influencing factors of pTMC complicated by CLNM were analyzed by single-factor and multifactorial unconditional logistic regression;the nomogram model of pTMC complicating CLNM with contrast-enhanced ultra-sound combined with TERT promoter mutation was constructed by RStudio 4.4.1 software,and the consistency and net benefit of the nomogram model were evaluated by using calibration curves,decision curves,and C-indexes,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test for goodness of fit of the nomogram model;The predictive efficiency of the nomogram model constructed by combining contrast-enhanced ultrasound and TERT promoter mutation for pTMC complicated by CLNM was evaluated by plotting receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves using MedCalc22.023 software.Results After postoperative pathological examination,the incidence of CLNM in 202 patients with pTMC was 48.02%(97/202).Univariate analysis showed that thyroglobulin antibodies,number of lesions,aspect ratio,micro-calcifications,enhancement time,enhancement mode,enhancement intensity,capsular continuity,and TERT promoter mutations were associated with pTMC complicating CLNM(P<0.05).Multifactorial unconditional logistic regression showed that multifocal tumours(OR=3.487,95%CI:1.641~7.406,P=0.001),microcalcifications(OR=4.484,95%CI:2.113~9.516,P<0.001),equal or high enhancement(OR=3.187,95%CI:1.460~6.957,P=0.004),disruption of peritoneal continuity(OR=2.201,95%CI:1.051~4.608,P=0.036),and TERT promoter mutation positivity(OR=4.460,95%CI:2.132~10.103,P<0.001)were the independent risk factors for pTMC complicating CLNM.A contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined TERT promoter mutation nomogram model was constructed based on independent risk factors for pTMC complicating CLNM[Logit(p)=-4.486+1.350×number of foci+1.399×microcalcifications+2.124×intensity of enhancement+1.524×capsular continuity+2.175×TERT promoter mutations].The C-index of this nomogram model was 0.899(95%CI:0.893~0.905),the calibra-tion curve alignment was close to the ideal curve,the decision curve was higher than the two extreme curves,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a P>0.05.The ROC curve analysis showed that the nomogram model constructed with contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with TERT promoter mutations predicted CLNM in pTMC with an area under the curve of 0.899.This was significantly higher than the area under the curves for contrast-enhanced ultra-sound alone(0.857)and TERT promoter mutations alone(0.697)(P<0.05).Conclusion The contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with TERT promoter mutations to construct a nomogram model has high predictive efficiency for pTMC complicating CLNM.

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