ObjectiveTo investigate the application value of a machine learning model based on preoperative clinical indicators in predicting the risk of hypoalbuminemia after partial hepatectomy. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 700 patients who underwent partial hepatectomy in Nanfang Hospital， Southern Medical University， from January 2018 to January 2023， including demographic data， history of underlying diseases， tumor characteristics， preoperative laboratory markers， and perioperative indicators. The research data were divided into a training set and a test set at a ratio of 7∶3. The two-independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups； the two-independent-samples Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of continuous data with skewed distribution between two groups； the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator （LASSO） regression analysis was used to identify characteristic variables， and 7 machine learning algorithms were used to construct predictive models， i.e.， logistic regression， decision tree， artificial neural network， K-nearest neighbors （KNN）， support vector machine， eXtreme gradient boosting， and light gradient boosting machine. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve and the area under the ROC curve （AUC） were used to assess the discriminatory ability of models， and the DeLong test was used for comparison of AUC. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis were used to assess the calibration and clinical practicability of models， and the models were compared with albumin-bilirubin （ALBI） score and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease （MELD） score. SHapley Additive exPlanations （SHAP） were used to interpret the key influencing factors for the optimal model. ResultsA total of 700 patients were finally enrolled， 283 （40.42%） developed hypoalbuminemia after surgery. The LASSO regression analysis identified 8 predictive factors of age， hepatitis B， fatty liver， blockade time， preoperative albumin （Alb）， time of operation， intraoperative blood loss， and preoperative aspartate aminotransferase （AST）. Among the 7 machine learning models， the KNN model showed the best overall predictive performance， with an AUC of 0.835 （95% confidence interval： 0.781 — 0.889）， a sensitivity of 84.0%， and a specificity of 65.5% in the test set. ALBI and MELD scores had an AUC of 0.652 and 0.524， respectively， and the KNN model had a better predictive performance than these two scores （Z=5.309 and 8.945， both P <0.001）. The calibration curve showed good consistency between predicted probabilities and actual incidence rates， and the decision curve analysis showed that the KNN model had net clinical benefit across a wide threshold range. The SHAP analysis showed that preoperative Alb， hepatitis B， time of operation， and age were the most significant influencing factors， and a synergistic effect was observed between hepatitis B and age/time of operation. ConclusionThe KNN machine learning model constructed based on preoperative clinical indicators can effectively predict the risk of hypoalbuminemia after partial hepatectomy and has a better performance than traditional scoring models， which provides a reference for the early identification of high-risk patients in clinical practice.

Objective To explore the echocardiographic features of critically ill patients with infection, and to evaluate the predictive value of echocardiographic parameters for 28-day mortality and myocardial injury. Methods Using a single-center prospective cohort design, 120 critically ill patients with infection admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2024 to January 2025 were enrolled consecutively. According to the severity of infection, patients were divided into the sepsis group (n＝75) and the non-sepsis group (n＝45). Cox proportional hazards models and modified Poisson regression were used to analyze risk factors of 28-day all-cause mortality and myocardial injury. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to assess prognosis differences among patients with different ultrasound parameters. ROC curve and area under the curve (AUC) were applied to evaluate the predictive performance of ultrasound parameters, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was used to explore nonlinear relationships. Results The E/e′ ratio was significantly higher in the sepsis group than in the non-sepsis group (P＜0.001), while left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were lower in the sepsis group (P＜0.05). The Cox proportional hazards model found no association between ultrasound parameters and 28-day all-cause mortality. Modified Poisson regression showed that, after adjusting for confounding factors, elevated E/e′ was an independent risk factor of myocardial injury (RR＝1.12, 95% CI 1.07–1.17, P＜0.001). Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with E/e′ ＞10.9 had lower 28-day survival rates (P＝0.02), and the AUC for E/e′ predicting myocardial injury was 0.835. RCS analysis suggested a nonlinear relationship between E/e′ and myocardial injury risk (P＜0.001). Conclusions E/e′, LVEF, and LVFS have no significant predictive value for 28-day mortality risk in critically ill patients with infections. Elevated E/e′ is an independent risk factor of myocardial injury in such patients, with a nonlinear relationship.

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), a pivotal molecule in innate immunity, has emerged as a keypoint in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of basic immunology and tumor biology. As a cytosolic nucleic acid sensor, cGAS is primarily characterized by its capacity to recognize double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in the cytosol. Upon binding to dsDNA, cGAS undergoes a conformational change that promotes its dimerization and subsequent enzymatic activation. Once activated, it catalyzes the synthesis of the second messenger 2',3'-cGAMP from ATP and GTP. cGAMP then binds to the adaptor protein STING, which resides on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. The binding process triggers STING to traffic from the ER to the Golgi apparatus, where it is phosphorylated by the kinase TBK1. Phosphorylated STING serves as a docking site for the transcription factor IRF3, facilitating its phosphorylation by TBK1. Once phosphorylated, IRF3 forms dimers and translocates to the nucleus, where it drives the expression of type I interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines, initiating a potent antimicrobial state. The DNA-sensing mechanism of cGAS is inherently non-selective regarding the origin of its ligand. It readily detects exogenous DNA from invading pathogens, thereby playing an indispensable role in host defense against microbial infections. However, this same mechanism also enables cGAS to recognize self-DNA that leaks from the nucleus or mitochondria into the cytosol under various cellular stress conditions. While critical for immunity, the recognition of self-dsDNA by cGAS can disrupt cellular homeostasis and trigger aberrant inflammatory responses. The loss of self-tolerance can precipitate or exacerbate the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS), highlighting the dual role of cGAS as both a sentinel for infection and a potential driver of autoimmune pathology. Notably, the subcellular localization of cGAS is not still. Increasing recent researches have revealed that cGAS is also abundant within the nucleus, challenging the traditional view of it solely as a cytosolic nucleic acid sensor. Within the nucleus, cGAS exhibits non-canonical functions that are distinct from its canonical immunological role. First, cGAS exists in a state of stringent immunological silence in the nucleus, with mechanisms involving its competitive binding to histones and its post-translational modifications which block the activation of cGAS enzymatic activity, thus, effectively preventing it from mounting an autoimmune attack on genomic DNA. Second, cGAS plays a critical role in maintaining genomic stability. Upon DNA damage, cGAS is rapidly recruited to the lesion site and participates in the DNA damage repair process. Moreover, under conditions of DNA replication stress, cGAS contributes to the stabilization of replication forks, preventing the cell from entering a state of uncontrolled hyper-replication. Consequently, in light of the dual role of cGAS in both immune regulation and tumor development, the development of small-molecule drugs targeting cGAS holds significant therapeutic promise. This review summarizes the structural characteristics of cGAS and its canonical function as a pattern recognition receptor in the cytosol, including the types of pathogens it recognizes and the autoimmune responses resulting from erroneous recognition of self-DNA. It then focuses on its emerging non-canonical functions within the nucleus, detailing its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, the mechanisms underlying its nuclear immune quiescence, and its role in mediating DNA damage repair and replication fork stabilization. Finally, the review discusses the progress and application prospects of small-molecule drugs targeting cGAS for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer.

OBJECTIVE To establish a method for simultaneous determination of plasma concentration of lamotrigine（LTG）， levetiracetam（LEV） and perampanel（PER） in children with epilepsy and apply this method in clinical practice. METHODS Plasma proteins were precipitated with acetonitrile. Using PER-D 5 as internal standard， ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-MS/MS） method was adopted. The determination was performed on ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 C 18 column with mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid with 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate-acetonitrile （gradient elution） at the flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The column temperature was 40 ℃， and sample size was 5 μL. The analysis time was 5 min. The electrospray ionization source and multiple reaction monitoring mode were used for positive ion scanning. The ion pairs used for quantitative analysis of LTG， LEV， PER and internal standard were m / z 255.9→144.9， m / z 171.1→126.1， m / z 350.1→219.0 and m / z 354.9→220.2， respectively. The steady-state trough concentrations of the aforementioned drugs in the plasma of 14 pediatric epilepsy patients receiving combination therapy were determined using the same UPLC-MS/MS method as above. RESULTS The linear ranges of LTG， LEV and PER were 0.15-24 μg/mL （ R 2 ＞0.993）， 0.312 5-50 μg/mL （ R 2 ＞0.997） and 6.25-1 000 ng/mL （ R 2 ＞0.997）， respectively. The lower limits of quantification were 0.15 μg/mL， 0.312 5 μg/mL and 6.25 ng/mL， respectively. RSDs of intraday and interday precision tests of the three drugs were no more than 9.83%， and the accuracies （relative errors） were between －9.33% and 13.72%（ n ＝6 or n ＝18）； the average extraction recovery rates were 86.4%-97.9%， and the average matrix effects were 86.9%-110.0% （ n ＝6）. The absolute values of the relative errors in the stability tests were all below 15%. The steady-state trough concentrations of LTG， LEV and PER were （5.64±4.03）μg/mL， （10.67±8.78）μg/mL and（450.20±251.27）ng/mL， respectively； the rates of achieving target trough concentrations were 71.4%， 37.5% and 84.6%， respectively. CONCLUSIONS The established UPLC-MS/MS method is specific， rapid and suitable for the plasma concentration monitoring in epileptic children receiving combination therapy.

BACKGROUND:The quadriceps strength of patients with osteoporosis and sarcopenia is significantly reduced,which can further reduce the function of the knee joint,affect the function of the lower limbs and even lead to a decrease in whole-body coordination.It is speculated that a reasonable quadriceps training program and personalized guidance are beneficial to the recovery of knee joint function in patients with osteoporosis and sarcopenia.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of short-term moderate-intensity resistance rehabilitation training on the mass and function of the quadriceps and knee joint function in patients with osteoporosis and sarcopenia.METHODS:Using the integrated physical examination and rehabilitation model,375 patients with osteoporosis and sarcopenia were screened at the Health Management Center of Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center.They underwent 12 weeks of combined/comprehensive exercise rehabilitation based on resistance exercise,including quadriceps resistance isotonic and isometric contraction training twice a week(3-5 sets each time,10-15 minutes per set)and aerobic exercise/balance exercise two or three times a week(30 minutes each time).Assessments and data collection were performed before rehabilitation training,12 weeks after rehabilitation training,and at follow-up 12 weeks after stopping rehabilitation training,mainly including knee joint range of motion and proprioception,quadriceps muscle strength,and cross-sectional area(magnetic resonance imaging results),pain,knee joint function(Hospital for Special Surgery score)and walking function("up-and-go"time and 6 m pace test results)as well as the patient's psychological status assessment.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:All 375 patients completed 12 weeks of rehabilitation training and 12 weeks of follow-up without any adverse events.(1)Compared with before training,the patients' gait speed and knee range of motion increased significantly after 12 weeks of rehabilitation training(P＜0.01),the time of"stand-to-walk"decreased(P＜0.01),and the proprioception of the knee joint and the strength of the quadriceps femoris were significantly improved(P＜0.01);and at the follow-up visit 12 weeks after stopping training,the above indicators and functions of the patients were well maintained(P＞0.05).(2)Magnetic resonance imaging results showed that the effective cross-sectional area of the quadriceps femoris did not improve significantly after 12 weeks of rehabilitation training(P＞0.05);but the Hospital for Special Surgery score of knee joint function increased significantly(P＜0.01),and the visual analog pain scale score decreased significantly(P＜0.01),suggesting that this may be related to the improvement of quadriceps femoris quality by resistance rehabilitation training.(3)The results of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score showed that the anxiety and depression scores of the patients continued to decrease,both at 12 weeks of rehabilitation training and at 12 weeks after stopping training(P＜0.01).It is suggested that resistance rehabilitation training of the quadriceps can help patients with osteoporosis and sarcopenia to restore quadriceps muscle strength,increase range of motion,improve proprioception and joint stability,thereby enhancing knee joint function,reducing pain,improving depression and anxiety,and to a certain extent promoting the coordinated recovery of the musculoskeletal system.

Machado-Joseph disease, or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), represents the most common autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia worldwide. Despite its progressive and debilitating nature, disease-modifying therapies remain elusive. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive intervention; however, its clinical application has been hindered by inconsistent protocols and a lack of mechanistic understanding. A recent landmark study published in Brain Stimulation by Chen et al. addressed these challenges by combining a high-dose intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) protocol with concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG). This commentary provides an in-depth analysis of their findings, highlighting the restoration of cerebello-cortical inhibition (CBI) as a key therapeutic mechanism. Furthermore, we discuss the broader implications of this work, proposing that future translational research should integrate accelerated iTBS (aiTBS) paradigms, cortical response measurements (CRM), and individualized neuro-navigation to establish a new era of precision neuromodulation for ataxia.

Machado-Joseph disease, or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), represents the most common autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia worldwide. Despite its progressive and debilitating nature, disease-modifying therapies remain elusive. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive intervention; however, its clinical application has been hindered by inconsistent protocols and a lack of mechanistic understanding. A recent landmark study published in Brain Stimulation by Chen et al. addressed these challenges by combining a high-dose intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) protocol with concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG). This commentary provides an in-depth analysis of their findings, highlighting the restoration of cerebello-cortical inhibition (CBI) as a key therapeutic mechanism. Furthermore, we discuss the broader implications of this work, proposing that future translational research should integrate accelerated iTBS (aiTBS) paradigms, cortical response measurements (CRM), and individualized neuro-navigation to establish a new era of precision neuromodulation for ataxia.

As the core vehicle for preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） academic thought and clinical experience， the establishment of a robust quality evaluation system for TCM clinical case reports is a crucial component in the current standardization and modernization of TCM. Based on the practical experience of constructing the China Clinical Cases Library of Traditional Chinese Medicine by the China Association of Chinese Medicine， this study conducted a comprehensive analysis of critical challenges， including insufficient authenticity and unfocused evaluation criteria. It proposed a three-dimensional evaluation framework grounded in the structure-process-outcome logic， encompassing three dimensions of authenticity and standardization， characteristics and advantages， application and translational impact. This framework integrated 12 key evaluation indicators in a systematic manner. The model preserved the academic characteristics of TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment， while aligning with modern scientific research standards， achieving a balance between individualized TCM experience and standardized evaluation. Concurrently， this study provided theoretical foundations and methodological guidance for evaluating the quality of TCM clinical cases， contributing significantly to the inheritance of TCM knowledge， evidence-based practice， and the reform of talent evaluation mechanisms.

ObjectiveGastrodia elata has evolved ecological types with shortened rhizome internodes and diversified flower and fruit coloration in response to different altitudes. Studying the genetic mechanisms of different ecotype germplasm is significant for guiding variety breeding in different cultivation areas. MethodsThe bHLH gene family was identified based on the whole-genome datasets of G. elata f. elata and G. elata f. glauca. Subsequently， the gene family members were subject to analysis， including gene structure， chromosomal localization， cis-acting elements， gene synteny， and phylogeny. Combined with transcriptome data and quantitative Real-time PCR， the expression patterns of bHLH genes in the stems of the different G. elata ecotype germplasm were analyzed. Finally， correlation analysis was conducted between gene expression patterns and color to obtain the key bHLH genes regulating the color formation of stem. ResultsA total of 63 bHLH genes were identified in both G elata f. elata and G. elata f. glauca， unevenly distributed across 17 chromosomes and clustered into 16 subfamilies， with significant expansion in some family members. Obvious inversions of bHLH genes on the same chromosome and interchromosomal translocations were detected in the two ecotype germplasm. Among these genes， 12 bHLH genes （such as bHLH62-3 and bHLH74） were associated with the bright yellow color of G elata f. elata stem， while 9 bHLH genes （such as PIL13， UNE12， and bHLH130） were correlated with the red color of G. elata f. glauca stem. Compared to G. elata f. glauca， the bHLH48 expression level was significantly higher in flowers and scale leaves of G elata f. elata， and the bHLH62-3 expression level was significantly higher in all organs of G elata f. elata. ConclusionsFunctional pathway divergence of the bHLH family members has occurred across different chromosomes in G elata f. elata and G. elata f. glauca. Through synergism or antagonism with other genes， 21 bHLH genes participate in the coloration metabolic pathway regulation of stems， flowers， and fruits. Specifically， bHLH62-3 is involved in regulating stem color differentiation in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway of G. elata， thus relevant to the color formation of stem. Additionally， GebHLH48 positively regulates flowering-related pathways to promote the early-flowering phenotype of G. elata f. elata. These findings have laid the foundation for analyzing the genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying the color formation of the G. elata stem.

BackgroundPatients with depressive episode and schizophrenia have a high risk of suicide. The sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density characteristics of patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior and those with schizophrenia may be different， but there is currently a lack of direct comparative studies on these two groups of patients. ObjectiveTo compare the sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density between depressive episode and schizophrenic patients with suicidal behavior， in order to provide references for exploring predictive indicators of suicidal behavior. MethodsFrom June 2018 to December 2020， 20 patients with depressive episode and 20 patients with schizophrenia who had committed suicide within the past month and were treated at the outpatient department of Shenzhen Kangning Hospital were selected. All of them met the diagnostic criteria for depressive episode or schizophrenia as defined in the International Classification of Diseases， tenth edition （ICD-10）. Using a random sampling method， 20 volunteers with matching gender and age to the patient groups were selected from the Cuiping community in Shenzhen as the control group. The subjective sleep of the patients was evaluated using the Insomnia Severity Index （ISI）， the Dysfunctional Belief and Attitude about Sleep （DBAS）， the Disturbing Dreams and Nightmare Severity Index （DDNSI）， and the Epworth Somnolence Scale （ESS）. The objective sleep of the patients was assessed using polysomnography. The sleep electroencephalogram was filtered and the power spectral density of the brain wave was analyzed and processed for all the subjects. The subjective and objective sleep conditions of the two patient groups were compared， and the sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density of the patient groups and the control group were also compared. ResultsA comparison of subjective and objective sleep conditions between patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior and patients with schizophrenia accompanied by suicidal behavior showed no statistically significant differences （P>0.05）. Comparisons of sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density in the W stage （average power of α wave， total power of δ wave， average power of δ wave， average power of θ wave）， N1 stage （average power of β wave， total power of α wave， total power of δ wave）， N2 stage （total power of α wave， average power of α wave， total power of δ wave， average power of δ wave）， N3 stage （average power of α wave， average power of δ wave）， and R stage （total power of α wave， average power of α wave， total power of δ wave， average power of δ wave） between patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior， patients with schizophrenia accompanied by suicidal behavior， and the control group showed statistically significant differences （P<0.05 or 0.01）. The total power of δ wave in the W stage and the average power of β wave and δ wave in the N1 stage were higher in two patient groups were higher than those of the control group. The total power of α wave and the average power of α wave in the N2 stage were lower than those of the control group， while the average power of δ wave was higher than that of the control group. The average power of α wave in the N3 stage of both patient groups were lower than that of the control group， while the average power of δ wave was higher than that of the control group. The total power and average power of α wave in the R stage were lower than those of the control group， while the total power and average power of δ wave were higher than those of the control group. All the differences were statistically significant. Patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior had higher average powers of α wave， δ wave， and θ wave in the W stage compared with the control group， while the total power of α wave in the N1 stage was lower in the former group. All these differences were statistically significant （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe depressive episode patients accompanied by suicidal behavior have highly overlapping sleep electroencephalogram abnormal patterns with those of schizophrenia patients， mainly manifested as a general decrease in α wave power （N2， N3， R stage） and a general increase in δ wave power （W， N1， N2， N3， R stage） as well as β wave power in N1 stage. At the same time， patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior also show specific changes， including an increase in the average power of α and θ waves during the wakefulness period （W stage）， and a decrease in the total power of α wave in N1 stage. ［Funded by Guangdong Province High-level Clinical Key Specialty （with supporting funds from Shenzhen City） （number， SZGSP013）； Shenzhen Key Medical Discipline （number， SZXK041）； Shenzhen Clinical Medicine Research Center Project （number， 20210617155253001）］