Objective To explore the recognition capabilities of electronic nose combined with machine learning in identifying the breath odor map of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome elements. Methods The study design was a single-center observational study. General data and four diagnostic information were collected from 108 patients with pulmonary nodules admitted to the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM from April 2023 to March 2024. The patients' TCM disease location and nature distribution characteristics were analyzed using the syndrome differentiation method. The Cyranose 320 electronic nose was used to collect the odor profiles of oral exhalation, and five machine learning algorithms including random forest (RF), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were employed to identify the exhaled breath profiles of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules and different TCM syndromes. Results (1) The common disease locations in pulmonary nodules were ranked in descending order as liver, lung, and kidney; the common disease natures were ranked in descending order as Yin deficiency, phlegm, dampness, Qi stagnation, and blood deficiency. (2) The electronic nose combined with the RF algorithm had the best efficacy in identifying the exhaled breath profiles of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, with an AUC of 0.91, accuracy of 86.36%, specificity of 75.00%, and sensitivity of 92.85%. (3) The electronic nose combined with RF, LR, or XGBoost algorithms could effectively identify the different TCM disease locations and natures of pulmonary nodules, with classification accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity generally exceeding 80.00%.Conclusion Electronic nose combined with machine learning not only has the potential capabilities to differentiate the benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, but also provides new technologies and methods for the objective diagnosis of TCM syndromes in pulmonary nodules.

Objective:To analyze the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration above and below the vertebral body in pilots with lumbar spondylolysis.Methods:The medical records of 66 pilots who underwent lumbar imaging examinations at the Air Force Medical Center between September 2011 and January 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. The degree of intervertebral disc degeneration was compared between 33 pilots with lumbar spondylolysis and another 33 age-matched pilots without spondylolysis. The spondylolysis group was divided into subgroups with/without spondylolisthesis and unilateral/bilateral subgroups. The degree of disc degeneration above and below the vertebral body was compared between these subgroups using the modified Pfirrmann grading system.Results:The modified Pfirrmann scores of the discs above and below the spondylolytic vertebral body in the spondylolysis group were significantly higher than those at the corresponding segments in the non-spondylolysis group ( Z=-2.39, -4.41, P=0.017,<0.001). In pilots with spondylolysis accompanied by spondylolisthesis, the modified Pfirrmann score of the disc below the slipped vertebral body was significantly higher than that in pilots without spondylolisthesis ( Z=-3.02, P=0.003). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the modified Pfirrmann score of the disc above the slipped vertebral body between pilots with and without spondylolisthesis ( P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in the modified Pfirrmann scores of the discs above and below the vertebral body between pilots with unilateral and bilateral spondylolysis (both P>0.05). Conclusions:Pilots with lumbar spondylolysis exhibit severe intervertebral disc degeneration above and below the affected vertebral body. Spondylolisthesis can continue to exacerbate degeneration in the disc inferior to the affected vertebra.

Objective Under the guidance of the Social Ecosystems Theory(SET)framework,this study explores the experience of social isolation among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),providing a basis for the development of targeted clinical interventions.Methods This study employed purposeful sampling methods.Semi-structured interviews were conducted from April to July 2024 with patients diagnosed with COPD at a tertiary hospital in Shanxi Province,China,who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method and NVivo 12.0 software.Results This study involved in-depth interviews with 15 patients suffering from COPD,totaling approximately 405 minutes of interview time and yielding over 40,000 words in transcribed text.Totally 3 main themes and 9 sub-themes were distilled,among which the microsystem level reflects the intricate interplay of individual experiences(physical functional limitations,severe negative emotions,heightened emotional imbalance,and weakened social roles);the mesosystem level pertains to the support and challenges from family and social networks(intense need for familial emotional support,widening social gaps in interactions with friends and relatives,and pronounced interpersonal communication barriers);the macrosystem level involves the integrated influence of societal and policy environments(restricted living conditions and urgent demands for policy support and service accessibility).Conclusion The social isolation experienced by patients with COPD manifests in multiple dimensions of experience.It is necessary to develop interdisciplinary and multi-level comprehensive intervention strategies for the future,to create more social opportunities and emotional connections for patients,thereby improving their quality of life.

OBJECTIVE To investigate a suspected outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)infection in the intensive care unit of a traditional Chinese medicine hospital,identify the source of infec-tion and transmission routes,and provide a basis for prevention and control of CRKP infection.METHODS Epide-miological investigations were conducted on five patients with CRKP infections or colonization who were identi-fied in Jul.2024 at Suiyang County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Samples were collected from pa-tients,the ward environments,and hand surfaces to detect CRKP.Fourteen CRKP isolates were selected for car-bapenemase gene testing,and homology analysis was performed by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction(ERIC-PCR)and multilocus sequence typing(MLST).RESULTS The median age of the five cases was 73 years,and all had undergone multiple invasive procedures.Environmental monitoring showed a CRKP positive rate of 26.35％,with CRKP isolates detected on the hands of healthcare workers,surfaces in the wards and medical equipment surfaces.Genetic analysis showed that all 14 CRKP strains carried the KPC resist-ance gene;except for case 1,other strains carried the VIM gene.MLST identified CRKP of all strains as sequence type 48(ST48);while ERIC-PCR revealed two distinct genotypes:genotype A for case 1 and genotype B for the other cases and environmental isolates.After strengthening patient isolation and group treatment,strictly cleaning and disinfecting the ward environments and medical equipment,and strictly implementing hand hygiene,the infec-tion was effectively controlled.CONCLUSIONS Inadequate disinfection of the ward environments and medical e-quipment and poor compliance with hand hygiene are the main contributors to the suspected CRKP outbreak.Ho-mology analysis suggests the existence of two independent transmission chains.Timely identification and manage-ment of the infection sources,interruption of transmission routes,protection of susceptible individuals and imple-mentation of comprehensive infection control measures are essential for effective outbreak control.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)GAS5 on mi-croRNA-21(miR-21)in lung cancer cells through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signaling pathway on epithalium-mesenchymal transforma-tion and autophagy.Methods Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)was used to detect the expression of lncRNA GAS5 in 5 patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)and adjacent groups.Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to detect the targeting effect of lncRNA GAS5 on miR-21.A549 cells were divided into 5 groups,including pcDNA-null group,pcDNA-GAS5 group,pcDNA-GAS5+mimic group,pcDNA-GAS5+mimic group and pcDNA-GAS5+mimic+BEZ235 group.lncRNA GAS5 and miR-21 expression were detected by qPCR.PI3K,phosphorylated Akt(p-Akt),phosphorylated mTOR(p-mTOR),Beclin1,microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3)-Ⅱ,LC3-Ⅰ,E-cadherin,N-cadherin,Vimentin,Twist1,proliferation associated nuclear antigen(Ki67)and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)expres-sion.The cell proliferation activity was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method.Results lncRNA GAS5 expression in NSCLC group was significantly higher than that in ad-jacent group,with statistical significance(P<0.05).Dual luciferase reporter gene assay determined that ln-cRNA GAS5 in A549 cells had a direct targeting effect on miR-21.Compared with pcDNA-null group,cell pro-liferation activity decreased in pcDNA-GAS5 group.lncRNA GAS5,PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR,Beclin1,LC3-Ⅱ,N-cadherin,Vimentin,Twist1,Ki67 and PCNA were down-regulated,while miR-21,LC3-Ⅰ and E-cadherin were up-regulated,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with pcDNA-GAS5+mimic group,the cell proliferation activity of pcDNA-GAS5+mimic group was up-regulated.The expressions of PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR,Beclin1,LC3-Ⅱ,N-cadherin,Vimentin,Twist1,Ki67,and PCNA were up-regulated,while the expressions of miR-21,LC3-Ⅰ,and E-cadherin were down-regulated,with statistical significance(P<0.05).Compared with pcDNA-GAS5+mimic group,the cell proliferation activity of pcDNA-GAS5+mimic+BEZ235 group was down-regulated.The expressions of PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR,Beclin1,LC3-Ⅱ,N-cadherin,Vimentin,Twist1,Ki67 and PCNA were down-regulated,while the expressions of LC3-Ⅰ and E-cad-herin were up-regulated,with statistical significance(P<0.05).Conclusion lncRNA GAS5 inhibits PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway through miR-21,thereby inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transformation and autophagy of lung cancer cells,and reducing cell proliferation activity.

Objective:To investigate the infection rate of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) after intensive immunosuppressive therapy in combination with a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (lST+TPO-RA) as well as assess the clinical impact of treatment.Methods:A retrospective, case series study was undertaken involving patients with SAA who were admitted to Soochow Hopes Hematonosis Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, and Zhengzhou Third People′s Hospital from June 2022 to February 2025. Thirty patients with complete CMV and EBV monitoring data after IST+TPO-RA treatment were enrolled. The first activation time of CMV and EBV, the maximum viral load, the first negative conversion time, and blood routine tests within 3 days before CMV and EBV positivity, during the positive period, and within 3 days after turning negative were recorded. The patients were followed up for 9 months after the completion of IST. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the changes of blood routine before and after virus positivity and after turning negative. The χ2 test was used to compare the viral infection rate and the therapeutic effect of IST between the two groups. Results:The 30 SAA patients comprised 15 males and 15 females with an average age of (40.0±16.9) years. Of the 30 patients, 18 (60.0%) were infected with CMV and 6 (20.0%) with EBV. Among them, 17 cases received rabbit anti-human thymocyte immunoglobulin (r-ATG) treatment (r-ATG group), 13 cases received porcine anti-human lymphocyte immunoglobulin (p-ALG) treatment (p-ALG group). The CMV infection rate was significantly higher in the r-ATG group than in the p-ALG group (15/17 vs. 3/13, χ2=13.03, P<0.001); meanwhile, the rate of EBV infection was only slightly higher in the r-ATG group than in the p-ALG group, and the difference did not reach statistical significance (5/17 vs. 1/13, χ2=2.17, P=0.196). In patients infected with CMV, neutrophil, hemoglobin, and platelet counts were significantly decreased during the infection phase, followed by significant increases after CMV clearance ( F=14.48, 11.38, 4.73; all P<0.05). No significant differences in treatment efficacy were found between the r-ATG and p-ALG groups at 3, 6, and 9 months post-IST (all P>0.05). Conclusions:This preliminary study showed that the incidence of CMV and EBV infection in patients with SAA increased after IST, with CMV infections occurring significantly more frequently than EBV infections. The CMV infection rate was significantly higher in patients treated with r-ATG than in those receiving p-ALG. CMV infection was associated with notable alterations in hematological parameters, highlighting the need for close clinical monitoring.

OBJECTIVE To investigate a suspected outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)infection in the intensive care unit of a traditional Chinese medicine hospital,identify the source of infec-tion and transmission routes,and provide a basis for prevention and control of CRKP infection.METHODS Epide-miological investigations were conducted on five patients with CRKP infections or colonization who were identi-fied in Jul.2024 at Suiyang County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Samples were collected from pa-tients,the ward environments,and hand surfaces to detect CRKP.Fourteen CRKP isolates were selected for car-bapenemase gene testing,and homology analysis was performed by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction(ERIC-PCR)and multilocus sequence typing(MLST).RESULTS The median age of the five cases was 73 years,and all had undergone multiple invasive procedures.Environmental monitoring showed a CRKP positive rate of 26.35％,with CRKP isolates detected on the hands of healthcare workers,surfaces in the wards and medical equipment surfaces.Genetic analysis showed that all 14 CRKP strains carried the KPC resist-ance gene;except for case 1,other strains carried the VIM gene.MLST identified CRKP of all strains as sequence type 48(ST48);while ERIC-PCR revealed two distinct genotypes:genotype A for case 1 and genotype B for the other cases and environmental isolates.After strengthening patient isolation and group treatment,strictly cleaning and disinfecting the ward environments and medical equipment,and strictly implementing hand hygiene,the infec-tion was effectively controlled.CONCLUSIONS Inadequate disinfection of the ward environments and medical e-quipment and poor compliance with hand hygiene are the main contributors to the suspected CRKP outbreak.Ho-mology analysis suggests the existence of two independent transmission chains.Timely identification and manage-ment of the infection sources,interruption of transmission routes,protection of susceptible individuals and imple-mentation of comprehensive infection control measures are essential for effective outbreak control.

Objective:To investigate the infection rate of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) after intensive immunosuppressive therapy in combination with a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (lST+TPO-RA) as well as assess the clinical impact of treatment.Methods:A retrospective, case series study was undertaken involving patients with SAA who were admitted to Soochow Hopes Hematonosis Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, and Zhengzhou Third People′s Hospital from June 2022 to February 2025. Thirty patients with complete CMV and EBV monitoring data after IST+TPO-RA treatment were enrolled. The first activation time of CMV and EBV, the maximum viral load, the first negative conversion time, and blood routine tests within 3 days before CMV and EBV positivity, during the positive period, and within 3 days after turning negative were recorded. The patients were followed up for 9 months after the completion of IST. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the changes of blood routine before and after virus positivity and after turning negative. The χ2 test was used to compare the viral infection rate and the therapeutic effect of IST between the two groups. Results:The 30 SAA patients comprised 15 males and 15 females with an average age of (40.0±16.9) years. Of the 30 patients, 18 (60.0%) were infected with CMV and 6 (20.0%) with EBV. Among them, 17 cases received rabbit anti-human thymocyte immunoglobulin (r-ATG) treatment (r-ATG group), 13 cases received porcine anti-human lymphocyte immunoglobulin (p-ALG) treatment (p-ALG group). The CMV infection rate was significantly higher in the r-ATG group than in the p-ALG group (15/17 vs. 3/13, χ2=13.03, P<0.001); meanwhile, the rate of EBV infection was only slightly higher in the r-ATG group than in the p-ALG group, and the difference did not reach statistical significance (5/17 vs. 1/13, χ2=2.17, P=0.196). In patients infected with CMV, neutrophil, hemoglobin, and platelet counts were significantly decreased during the infection phase, followed by significant increases after CMV clearance ( F=14.48, 11.38, 4.73; all P<0.05). No significant differences in treatment efficacy were found between the r-ATG and p-ALG groups at 3, 6, and 9 months post-IST (all P>0.05). Conclusions:This preliminary study showed that the incidence of CMV and EBV infection in patients with SAA increased after IST, with CMV infections occurring significantly more frequently than EBV infections. The CMV infection rate was significantly higher in patients treated with r-ATG than in those receiving p-ALG. CMV infection was associated with notable alterations in hematological parameters, highlighting the need for close clinical monitoring.

Objective:To analyze the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration above and below the vertebral body in pilots with lumbar spondylolysis.Methods:The medical records of 66 pilots who underwent lumbar imaging examinations at the Air Force Medical Center between September 2011 and January 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. The degree of intervertebral disc degeneration was compared between 33 pilots with lumbar spondylolysis and another 33 age-matched pilots without spondylolysis. The spondylolysis group was divided into subgroups with/without spondylolisthesis and unilateral/bilateral subgroups. The degree of disc degeneration above and below the vertebral body was compared between these subgroups using the modified Pfirrmann grading system.Results:The modified Pfirrmann scores of the discs above and below the spondylolytic vertebral body in the spondylolysis group were significantly higher than those at the corresponding segments in the non-spondylolysis group ( Z=-2.39, -4.41, P=0.017,<0.001). In pilots with spondylolysis accompanied by spondylolisthesis, the modified Pfirrmann score of the disc below the slipped vertebral body was significantly higher than that in pilots without spondylolisthesis ( Z=-3.02, P=0.003). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the modified Pfirrmann score of the disc above the slipped vertebral body between pilots with and without spondylolisthesis ( P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in the modified Pfirrmann scores of the discs above and below the vertebral body between pilots with unilateral and bilateral spondylolysis (both P>0.05). Conclusions:Pilots with lumbar spondylolysis exhibit severe intervertebral disc degeneration above and below the affected vertebral body. Spondylolisthesis can continue to exacerbate degeneration in the disc inferior to the affected vertebra.

Objective Under the guidance of the Social Ecosystems Theory(SET)framework,this study explores the experience of social isolation among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),providing a basis for the development of targeted clinical interventions.Methods This study employed purposeful sampling methods.Semi-structured interviews were conducted from April to July 2024 with patients diagnosed with COPD at a tertiary hospital in Shanxi Province,China,who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method and NVivo 12.0 software.Results This study involved in-depth interviews with 15 patients suffering from COPD,totaling approximately 405 minutes of interview time and yielding over 40,000 words in transcribed text.Totally 3 main themes and 9 sub-themes were distilled,among which the microsystem level reflects the intricate interplay of individual experiences(physical functional limitations,severe negative emotions,heightened emotional imbalance,and weakened social roles);the mesosystem level pertains to the support and challenges from family and social networks(intense need for familial emotional support,widening social gaps in interactions with friends and relatives,and pronounced interpersonal communication barriers);the macrosystem level involves the integrated influence of societal and policy environments(restricted living conditions and urgent demands for policy support and service accessibility).Conclusion The social isolation experienced by patients with COPD manifests in multiple dimensions of experience.It is necessary to develop interdisciplinary and multi-level comprehensive intervention strategies for the future,to create more social opportunities and emotional connections for patients,thereby improving their quality of life.