COMPERA 2.0 risk stratification has been demonstrated to be useful in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, its suitability for patients at risk for post-capillary PH or PH associated with left heart disease (PH-LHD) is unclear. To investigate the use of COMPERA 2.0 in patients with severe aortic stenosis (SAS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), who are at risk for post-capillary PH, a total of 327 eligible SAS patients undergoing TAVR at our institution between September 2015 and November 2020 were included in the study. Patients were classified into four strata before and after TAVR using the COMPERA 2.0 risk score. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression model. The study cohort had a median (interquartile range) age of 76 (70‒80) years and a pulmonary arterial systolic pressure of 33 (27‒43) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) before TAVR. The overall mortality was 11.9% during 26 (15‒47) months of follow-up. Before TAVR, cumulative mortality was higher with an increase in the risk stratum level (log-rank, both P<0.001); each increase in the risk stratum level resulted in an increased risk of death (hazard ratio (HR) 2.53, 95% confidential interval (CI) 1.54‒4.18, P<0.001), which was independent of age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hemoglobin, albumin, and valve type (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.01‒3.07, P=0.047). Similar results were observed at 30 d after TAVR. COMPERA 2.0 can serve as a useful tool for risk stratification in patients with SAS undergoing TAVR, indicating its potential application in the management of PH-LHD. Further validation is needed in patients with confirmed post-capillary PH by right heart catheterization.
Humans ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/complications* ; Aged ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement ; Aged, 80 and over ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a comprehensive analysis of the global burden of diarrheal diseases in children under 5 years. METHODS: The data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 were analyzed to assess the incidence, mortality rates and average annual percentage changes (AAPC) of diarrhea among children under 5 years across nations(regions) and GBD regions from 1990 to 2021 using joinpoint regression. Smoothed curve regression was employed to explore the correlation of diarrheal disease burden with the Social Development Index (SDI) and for analyzing the burden of specific diarrheal pathogens. The Slope and Concentration Indices quantified disparities across SDI levels and the future trend were projected by the Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) model. RESULTS: From 1990 to 2021, the global incidence (AAPC: -3.65) and mortality (AAPC: -5.15) rates of diarrheal diseases declined steadily in children below 5 years. In 2021, neonates (<28 days) were the most affected, with an incidence rate of 138 058.74 per 100 000 and a mortality rate of 251.14 per 100 000. Rotavirus was the leading cause of death. The incidence rate of diarrheal diseases was negatively correlated with SDI, and the Concentration Index decreased from -0.293 in 1990 to -0.314 in 2021 without a significant gender difference. The BAPC model suggested that the global incidence rate of diarrheal diseases tends to decrease progressively from 2022 to 2050, with a predicted rate of 23 448.04 per 100 000 for male and 29 932.59 per 100 000 for female by 2050. CONCLUSIONS Despite the reduction in the global burden of diarrhea and the projection of its further decline, diarrheal diseases disproportionately affect neonates and low-SDI regions. While rotavirus remains the primary etiological agent worldwide, the predominant pathogens vary by nations (regions) and GBD regions, and strengthened interventions targeting vulnerable populations are needed.
Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Diarrhea/mortality* ; Infant ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Global Burden of Disease/trends* ; Global Health ; Male ; Bayes Theorem ; Female

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of deep learning model based on contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) video in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant liver tumors.Methods:Between May 2010 and June 2022, 1 213 patients who underwent CEUS examination for liver masses in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University were retrospectively collected, and the enrolled patients were divided into training and independent test cohorts with December 31, 2021 as the time cut-off. In the training cohort, the TimeSformer algorithm was used as the infrastructure, and multiple fixed-time segments were obtained from CEUS arterial videos by using the sliding window of the video, and the classification results of the entire video were obtained after fusing the features of multiple segments, so as to build a deep learning model based on CEUS videos. In the independent test cohort, ROC curves were used to verify the validity of the model and compared with three radiologists with different CEUS experience (R1, R2, and R3, with 3, 6, and 10 years of CEUS experience, respectively).Results:A total of 1 213 patients with liver masses were included in the study, including 1 066 patients in the training cohort (426 cases of malignancy) and 147 patients in the independent test cohort (50 cases of malignancy). The area under curve (AUC)value of deep learning model was 0.93±0.01 in the training cohort and 0.89±0.01 in the independent test cohort, and the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 80.42%, 74.19%, 92.00%, 94.52% and 65.71%, respectively. Among the three radiologists, R1 had the lowest diagnostic performance, with accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 67.83%, 51.61%, 98.00%, 97.96% and 52.13%, respectively, while the above indicators of R3 were 82.52%, 76.36%, 94.00%, 95.95% and 68.12%, respectively. McNemar′s test showed that the difference between R1 and the deep learning model was statistically significant ( P<0.001), while the differences between R2 and R3 and the deep learning model were not statistically significant ( P=0.720, 0.868). In addition, the analysis time of the model for a single case was (340.24±16.32)ms, while the average analysis time of radiologists was 62.9 s. Conclusions:The deep learning model based on CEUS can better identify benign and malignant liver masses, and may reach the diagnostic level of experienced radiologists.

BackgroundPatients with schizophrenia and depressive disorders exhibit abnormalities in perceptual processing. Previous perceptual studies are mainly based on asking participants to fill in a questionnaire， and little research has been undertaken on objective behavior in patients with schizophrenia and depressive disorders. ObjectiveTo explore the behavioral changes in vibrotactile sense among patients with schizophrenia and depressive disorders， so as to enrich relevant findings in objective behavioral research. MethodsFrom March 2021 to September 2023， 33 patients with schizophrenia and 31 patients with depressive disorders in the outpatient and inpatient departments of Beijing Huilongguan Hospital and met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5） diagnostic criteria were enrolled. And another 34 healthy controls were concurrently recruited at Beihang University and Beijing Huilongguan Hospital. Patients with schizophrenia were assessed using Positive and Negative Symptom Scale （PANSS）， and patients with depressive disorders were assessed using Hamilton Depression Scale-17 item （HAMD-17）. The vibrotactile sensitivity of the left hand in all participants was tested in a delay match-to-sample procedure， and the correct rate of vibrotactile delayed discrimination task was compared among the three groups. ResultsCompared with healthy controls， a reduction was found in the correct rates at index finger， middle finger and ring finger in patients with schizophrenia （P<0.01）， the average correct rate at five fingers in patients with schizophrenia （P=0.001）， and the correct rate at thumb in patients with depressive disorders （P=0.026）. No statistical difference was reported in correct rate of vibrotactile delayed discrimination task between patients with depression disorders and schizophrenia （P>0.05）. The average correct rate of vibrotactile sense in schizophrenia group was not significantly correlated with the duration of disease， age of onset， chlorpromazine equivalent doses and PANSS score （r=0.058、0.045、0.114、-0.194， P>0.05）. The average correct rate in depressive group was negatively correlated with age of onset （r=-0.415， P=0.020）， but not significantly correlated with the duration of disease and HAMD-17 score （r=-0.044， 0.142， P>0.05）. ConclusionPatients with schizophrenia and depressive disorders have impaired vibrotactile sense. The vibrotactile sense is impaired in index， middle and ring fingers among patients with schizophrenia， and in thumbs of patients with depressive disorders. Moreover， the impairment in patients with depressive disorders may be related to the age of onset. ［Funded by 2023 Hebei Provincial Graduate Innovation Funding Project （number， CXZZSS2023140）］

Objective To investigate the effects of a 45％high-fat diet(HFD)with isocaloric intake on energy metabolism and endurance exercise capacity in SD rats.Methods Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into normal chow diet group(CON),HFD group,normal chow diet+exercise training group(CONT),and HFD+exercise training group(HFDT).The CON and CONT groups received normal chow diet,while the HFD and HFDT groups received a 45％high-fat diet with isocaloric intake.The HFDT and CONT groups underwent an endurance training of moderate-intensity running for 6 weeks.Body weight,fat mass,and lean mass were measured weekly.Energy expenditure and basal metabolic rate during rest and exercise states were measured using Pheno Master/Calo Treadmill system.Blood glucose,lipids,and creatine kinase levels were detected after the exhaustion test.Results In 6 weeks after intervention,the endurance exercise capacity was significantly enhanced in the HFDT group than the CONT group(P＜0.05).There were no obvious differences in body weight and body composition among the groups under isoenergetic feeding conditions.At rest,no statistical differences were observed in total energy expenditure and basal metabolic rate among the groups.However,prior to the 4th week,the CON group primarily metabolized carbohydrates while the HFD group primarily metabolized fats.But the carbohydrate metabolism was decreased and then increased,and the substrate metabolism rates eventually reached similar levels between the 2 groups on the 5th to 6th week.The HFDT group primarily metabolized fats while the CONT group primarily metabolized carbohydrates,with significant differences persisting after 6 weeks of training(P＜0.05).HFD led to elevated levels of serum cholesterol,triglycerides(TG),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),but,endurance training resulted in decreased lipid levels in the HFDT group,accompanied by an increase inβ-hydroxybutyrate(βHB)level(P＜0.05).Isoenergetic diets had no significant differences in their effects on liver and kidney function or muscle damage indicators.Conclusion An isoenergetic HFD can improve fat utilization ability and extend endurance exercise time in rats without altering body composition or affecting liver and kidney function.

Objective To investigate the impact of influence of personality traits of nurses as second victim and negative experience of nurses in adverse event and explore the intermediary roles of stress perception in influencing mechanism of negative experience.Methods Between March and April 2023,a convenience sampling method was employed to select 560 nurses from 3 general hospitals in Taiyuan City to conduct the study.The selected nurse all had experienced adverse events within last 3 months.The survey employed a general information questionnaire,Chinese big five personality questionnaire,second victim experience and support scale and Chinese version of stress perception scale.Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between the personality traits of nurses as second victim(specifically neuroticism),negative experiences and stress perception.The mediating role of stress perception between the neuroticism of nurses as second victim and negative experiences of nurses was analysed using PROCESS plug-in with the Bootstrap method.Results All of 560 distributed questionnaires were recovered,with a 100.00%of response rate.Personality traits of nurses as second victim were ranked in descending order with rigor,agreeableness,openness,neuroticism and extroversion.Both negative experiences and stress perception had higher scores(40.25±10.64 and 30.25±5.98,respectively).Neurotic personality in nurses as second victim was positively correlated with negative experience(r=0.528,P＜0.01)and stress perception(r=0.594,P＜0.01).Negative experiences showed a positive correlation with stress perception(r=0.339,P＜0.01).Neurotic personality of nurses as second victim had a significant direct impact on negative experiences[β=0.519,95%CI:0.318-0.720].As one of the stress perception dimensions,tension played a partial mediating role between neurotic personality in nurses as second victim and negative experience[β=0.148,95%CI:0.006-0.300],and a mediating effect percentage of 22.70%.Conclusions The neurotic personality of nurses as second victim can directly affect the negative experiences,either independently or in conjunction with tension.Nursing managers and nurses as second victims can reduce the negative experiences in adverse events by addressing higher neurotic personality and alleviating tension.

Objective To investigate the underlying mechanism of Huayu Xiaozheng granule(HYXZ)in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy(EP).Methods The potential ingredients and targets of HYXZ were identified and screened.PPI network,GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis were established to understand the potential and intricate mechanism of HYXZ in treating EP.The effects of HYXZ on HTR-8/SVneo cells migration and invasion were detected by wounding healing assay and transwell migration assay respectively,as well as the influence of HYXZ granule on JAK/STAT pathway and associated proteins were assessed by western blot under the control of JAK/STAT pathway inhibitor and agonist.Results A total of 375 active ingredients,45 known targets and 207 predicted targets of HYXZ were obtained.A PPI network has constructed to know the relationship of 252 common targets of drug targets and disease targets,from which we screened out 15 key targets:STAT3,MMP9,TLR4,HIF1A and others.Scratch test showed that HYXZ inhibited the migration of the HTR-8/SVneo cells cells in a time and dose-dependent manner;Transwell test showed that the number of transmembrane cells decreased significantly(P<0.05)after 48 h with various concentrations of HYXZ;Western blot experiment showed that the expression of JAK/STAT pathway protein decreased significantly(P<0.05);and the expression of its related proteins uPA,HIF1and N-cadherin were inhibited(P<0.05),the tendency of which was consistent with the inhibitor AG490,but opposite to the agonist IL-6.Conclusion HYXZ inhibited JAK/STAT pathway,and associated proteins uPA,HIF1A and N-cadherin,thereby suppressing the mobility and invasiveness of the HTR-8/SVneo cells,which is conductive to clarify the mechanism of HYXZ in the treatment of early EP.

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite that infects one-third of the world’s population, has been reported to hijack host cell apoptotic machinery and promote either an anti- or proapoptotic program depending on the parasite virulence and load and the host cell type. However, little is known about the regulation of human FHs 74 small intestinal epithelial cell viability in response to T. gondii infection. Here we show that T. gondii RH strain tachyzoite infection or ESP treatment of FHs 74 Int cells induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress in host cells. Pretreatment with 4-PBA inhibited the expression or activation of key molecules involved in ER stress. In addition, both T. gondii and ESP challenge-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death were dramatically suppressed in 4-PBA pretreated cells. Our study indicates that T. gondii infection induced ER stress in FHs 74 Int cells, which induced mitochondrial dysfunction followed by apoptosis. This may constitute a potential molecular mechanism responsible for the foodborne parasitic disease caused by T. gondii.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) EXOC7 in serum and liver biopsy tissue of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) and its clinical significance. MethodsA total of 120 patients who underwent liver biopsy in The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018 and were diagnosed with NAFLD based on imaging and histopathology were enrolled, among whom 47 had nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and 73 had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A total of 50 liver disease patients without steatosis or steatohepatitis were enrolled as control group. Real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of lncRNA EXOC7 in liver tissue and serum. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups; an analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups, and the SNK-q test was used for further comparison between two groups. A chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between lncRNA EXOC7 and biochemical parameters. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to investigate the diagnostic value of lncRNA EXOC7. ResultsCompared with the control group, the patients with NAFL or NASH had significant increases in the expression of lncRNA EXOC7 in liver tissue and serum (all P＜0.05), and the level of such expression increased with the aggravation of hepatic steatosis and inflammation (F=19.96, P＜0.05). The correlation analysis showed that the expression of lncRNA EXOC7 was positively correlated with total triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=0.785 and r=0.847, both P＜0.001) and was negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and insulin sensitivity index (r=-0.726 and -0.709, both P＜0.001). LncRNA EXOC7 had an area under the ROC curve of 0.812 (95% confidence interval: 0.599-0.915, P＜0001), a sensitivity of 8542%, and a specificity of 81.17% in the diagnosis of NAFLD. ConclusionLncRNA EXOC7 is highly expressed in patients with NAFLD, and the expression of lncRNA EXOC7 increases with the aggravation of hepatic steatosis and inflammation, suggesting that lncRNA EXOC7 may be a potential new target for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

In eukaryotes, protein phosphorylation is specifically catalyzed by numerous protein kinases (PKs), faithfully orchestrates various biological processes, and reversibly determines cellular dynamics and plasticity. Here we report an updated algorithm of Group-based Prediction System (GPS) 5.0 to improve the performance for predicting kinase-specific phosphorylation sites (p-sites). Two novel methods, position weight determination (PWD) and scoring matrix optimiza-tion (SMO), were developed. Compared with other existing tools, GPS 5.0 exhibits a highly com-petitive accuracy. Besides serine/threonine or tyrosine kinases, GPS 5.0 also supports the prediction of dual-specificity kinase-specific p-sites. In the classical module of GPS 5.0, 617 individual predic-tors were constructed for predicting p-sites of 479 human PKs. To extend the application of GPS 5.0, a species-specific module was implemented to predict kinase-specific p-sites for 44,795 PKs in 161 eukaryotes. The online service and local packages of GPS 5.0 are freely available for academic research at http://gps.biocuckoo.cn.