Objectives:To investigate the physical growth status of pediatric patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) and analyze the effects of treatment-related and socioeconomic factors on physical growth.Methods:Based on the specialized thalassemia database from gene therapy clinical research at the Institute of Hematology & Hospital of Blood Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, we collected data on height and weight development, family economic status, and medical records of 338 pediatric patients with TDT from October 2023 to May 2024. The length/height-for-age and body mass index (BMI) -for-age were classified based on the Growth Standard for Children under 7 Years of Age, Standard for Height Level Classification among Children and Adolescents Aged 7-18 Years, and Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the effects of family economic status and disease-related treatment on length/height-for-age and BMI-for-age.Results:Among the 338 patients, 118 were children and 220 were adolescents (192 males and 146 females), with a median age of 12 years (range: 0.8-18) and a median diagnosis duration of 10.3 years (range: 0.5-17.9). Subtypes included α-thalassemia [21 cases (6.2%) ], β-thalassemia [288 cases (85.2%) ], and combined αβ-thalassemia[29 cases (8.6%) ]. The monthly household income of patients was concentrated in 3 000-5 000 yuan (39.9%) and 5 001-10 000 yuan (34.9%), whereas 67.2% of the families had monthly medical expenses of <3 000 yuan. Of the patients, 75.5% received their first transfusion before 1 year of age. The proportions of children and adolescents with pretransfusion hemoglobin (HGB) of ≤70 g/L were 4.2% and 6.4%, respectively. Adolescents demonstrated significantly higher rates of transfusion frequency of <4 weeks/session, monthly red blood cell infusion of >2 U, serum ferritin (SF) of ≥5 000 μg/L, iron chelation therapy, and splenectomy compared with children (all P<0.05). Of the 338 patients, 26.0%, 22.8%, and 8.9% demonstrated stunted growth, underweight, and concurrent stunted growth with underweight, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the stunted growth rates between children (22.9%) and adolescents (27.7%) ( P=0.402). However, the underweight rate in adolescents (26.8%) was significantly higher than that in children (15.3%) ( P=0.023). The multivariate analysis determined the following risk factors for stunted growth: monthly household income of <10 000 yuan (5 001-10 000 yuan: OR=5.49, 95% CI: 1.48-35.76; 3 000-5 000 yuan: OR=6.87, 95% CI: 1.88-44.60; <3 000 yuan: OR=9.29, 95% CI: 2.20-64.77), pretransfusion HGB of ≤70 g/L ( OR=3.25, 95% CI: 1.07-10.18), and SF of ≥5 000 μg/L ( OR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.20-7.70). Longer diagnostic duration was associated with underweight ( OR=1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.20) . Conclusions:Children and adolescents with TDT with pretransfusion SF of ≥5 000 μg/L, HGB of ≤70 g/L, low monthly household income, or longer diagnosis duration were significantly more likely to experience delayed physical growth.

Fibrosis, the pathological scarring of vital organs, is a severe and often irreversible condition that leads to progressive organ dysfunction. It is particularly pronounced in organs like the liver, kidneys, lungs, and heart. Despite its clinical significance, the full understanding of its etiology and complex pathogenesis remains incomplete, posing substantial challenges to diagnosing, treating, and preventing the progression of fibrosis. Among the various molecular players involved, platelet-derived growth factor-C (PDGF-C) has emerged as a crucial factor in fibrotic diseases, contributing to the pathological transformation of tissues in several key organs. PDGF-C is a member of the PDGFs family of growth factors and is synthesized and secreted by various cell types, including fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells. It acts through both autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, exerting its biological effects by binding to and activating the PDGF receptors (PDGFRs), specifically PDGFRα and PDGFRβ. This binding triggers multiple intracellular signaling pathways, such as JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT and Ras-MAPK pathways. which are integral to the regulation of cell proliferation, survival, migration, and fibrosis. Notably, PDGF-C has been shown to promote the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts, key effector cells in the fibrotic process, thus accelerating the accumulation of extracellular matrix components and the formation of fibrotic tissue. Numerous studies have documented an upregulation of PDGF-C expression in various fibrotic diseases, suggesting its significant role in the initiation and progression of fibrosis. For instance, in liver fibrosis, PDGF-C stimulates hepatic stellate cell activation, contributing to the excessive deposition of collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins. Similarly, in pulmonary fibrosis, PDGF-C enhances the migration of fibroblasts into the damaged areas of lungs, thereby worsening the pathological process. Such findings highlight the pivotal role of PDGF-C in fibrotic diseases and underscore its potential as a therapeutic target for these conditions. Given its central role in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, PDGF-C has become an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Several studies have focused on developing inhibitors that block the PDGF-C/PDGFR signaling pathway. These inhibitors aim to reduce fibroblast activation, prevent the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components, and halt the progression of fibrosis. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of such inhibitors in animal models of liver, kidney, and lung fibrosis, with promising results in reducing fibrotic lesions and improving organ function. Furthermore, several clinical inhibitors, such as Olaratumab and Seralutinib, are ongoing to assess the safety and efficacy of these inhibitors in human patients, offering hope for novel therapeutic options in the treatment of fibrotic diseases. In conclusion, PDGF-C plays a critical role in the development and progression of fibrosis in vital organs. Its ability to regulate fibroblast activity and influence key signaling pathways makes it a promising target for therapeutic strategies aiming at combating fibrosis. Ongoing research into the regulation of PDGF-C expression and the development of PDGF-C/PDGFR inhibitors holds the potential to offer new insights and approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of fibrotic diseases. Ultimately, these efforts may lead to the development of more effective and targeted therapies that can mitigate the impact of fibrosis and improve patient outcomes.

Objective To investigate the clinical feasibility and safety of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)combined with modified endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)in the treatment of rectal neuroendo-crine tumors(RNETs).Methods A total of 48 patients diagnosed with RNETs by colonoscopy in the depart-ment of gastroenterology in this hospital from December 2021 to June 2023 were selected as the study objects.Patients were randomly divided into the study group(EUS combined with modified EMR,n=16),the control 1 group(traditional EMR,n=16)and the control 2 group[endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD),n=16].The operation time,R0 resection rate and postoperative complications of each group were observed.Endoscop-ic ultrasonography was followed up 3 and 6 months after surgery to determine whether there was any recur-rence.Results The operative time of the study group[(17.813±0.379)min]was significantly shorter than that of the control 2 group[(36.250±3.296)min],the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05),but compared with the control 1 group[(16.375±1.996)min],there was no significant difference(P＞0.05).The incidence of complications in the study group(6.2％)was significantly lower than that in the control 2 group(37.5％),the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).while the incidence of complications in the study group was not significantly higher than that in the control 1 group(12.5％,P＞0.05).R0 removal rate in the study group(93.8％)was significantly higher than that in the control 1 group(62.5％)and the control 2 group(75.0％),the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion EUS combined with modified EMR has more advantages than EMR and ESD in the treatment of RNETs,and has certain fea-sibility and safety,which is convenient for clinical application.

Objective This study aimed to examine the risk factors and prognostic factors of brucellar spondylitis for early prevention and treatment of the disease,and improving the outcomes of patients.Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted on the patients with brucellosis who were hospitalized in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from June 2020 to June 2022.Patients were assigned to brucellosis without spondylitis group or brucellar spondylitis group according to the presence of spondylitis.The patients in brucellar spondylitis group were followed for 1 year.Then they were stratified into a subgroup of good or poor prognosis according to clinical outcomes.The dataset for the demographic and clinical variables of patients were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software.Results A total of 300 patients with brucellosis were enrolled,including 113 cases of brucellosis without spondylitis and 187 cases of brucellar spondylitis.Multivariate analysis showed that age,time from onset to diagnosis,low back pain,and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were independent risk factors for brucellar spondylitis(P＜0.05).Of the 154 cases of brucellar spondylitis with known outcomes,121 cases showed good prognosis and 33 cases had poor prognosis.COX regression analysis showed that the time from onset to diagnosis,diabetes mellitus,paravertebral abscess,and neurological impairment were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with brucellar spondylitis(P＜0.05).Conclusions Old age,prolonged time from onset to diagnosis,low back pain,and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate are independent risk factors for spondylitis in patients with brucellosis.Prolonged time from onset to diagnosis,diabetes mellitus,paravertebral abscess,and neurological impairment are independent risk factors for poor prognosis of brucellar spondylitis.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between multiple inflammatory markers and poor outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage,and to compare their predictive abilities.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the patients with intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 1,2015 to March 31,2023.According to the Modified Rankin Scale at 90 days after onset,the patients were divided into good outcome(mRS≤2 points)and poor outcome(mRS score≥3 points).Clinical information,laboratory examinations and follow-up data were compared between the two groups.Inflammatory markers include neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR),platelet to lymphocyte ratio(PLR),monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio(MHR),systemic inflammatory response index(SIRI),systemic immune-inflammation index(SII),white blood cell count to mean platelet volume ratio(WMR),lymphocyte to monocyte ratio(LMR),and systemic coagulation-inflammation index(SCI).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the predictors of poor prognosis after intracerebral hemorrhage,and receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was constructed to compare their predictive ability.Results A total of 510 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage were included.Of those,297(58.2%)had good outcome,and 213(41.8%)had poor outcome.Comparison of baseline characteristics demonstrated that patients with poor prognosis had higher levels of white blood cells,neutrophils,high-density lipoprotein,fibrinogen,NLR,PLR,SIRI,SII,WMR at admission,larger baseline hematoma volume and baseline perihematomal edema volume,a higher proportion of lobar hemorrhage,older age,and lower levels of platelets,lymphocytes,LMR,and SCI(P<0.05).Multivariate regression analysis showed that NLR(OR:1.081,95%CI:1.032～1.1131,P=0.001),SIRI(OR:1.089,95%CI:1.014～1.169,P=0.019),SII(OR:1.000,95%CI:1.000～1.001,P=0.011),WMR(OR:2.627,95%CI:1.267～5.445,P=0.009)were independently associated with poor prognosis in patients with ICH.In ROC analysis,the area under the curve of NLR(0.729,95%CI:0.685～0.774)was higher than SIRI(0.692,95%CI:0.645～0.738),SII(0.688,95%CI:0.641～0.735)and WMR(0.65,95%CI:0.602～0.698)for predicting poor outcomes.Conclusion NLR,SIRI,SII and WMR at admission are independently associated with poor outcomes in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage,and NLR has the strongest predictive ability.

This study investigated the potential pathogenicity and genetic characteristics of ST314 Salmonella Kentucky(S.Ken-tucky)isolates from a broiler slaughterhouse.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing(WGS)were used to determine antimicrobial resistance,virulence factors,and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes(ARGs)and mobile genetic elements(MGEs)among the isolates.The three multidrug resistant(MDR)isolates exhibited high resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents.The F4-2S strain exhibited resistance to 14 drugs across seven categories,whereas the F4T strain showed resistance to 13 drugs in the same number of categories.In contrast,the Y23 strain was resistant to nine drugs in six categories.Notably,F4-2S dem-onstrated high homology with F4T:both possessed 13 ARGs distributed across nine categories,in addition to a wide range of virulence factors,including secretion systems and effector proteins.The presence of IncR and IncX1 plasmids significantly enhanced both the antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity of the isolates.The genome map of Y23 revealed a chromosome alongside two plasmids.The chromosome containedonly one resistance gene but several virulence factors,including the type III secretion system(T3SS),which is crucial for bacterial invasion.The plasmid pY23-1 contained eight types of 19 ARGs.Comparative analysis indicated that pY23-1 ex-hibited high homology with pZ1323SSL0055 and pSAL-045,all of which contained multiple ARGs,thus suggesting critical roles of these genes in the evolution of bacterial resistance.In conclusion,ST314 S.Kentucky demonstrated a complex mechanism of resis-tance coupled with significant pathogenic potential.The ARGs and MGEs in the plasmid contributed to the emergence and dissemina-tion of antimicrobial resistance.The multiple virulence factors present in the chromosome may be key factors driving the increasing virulence of ST314 S.Kentucky.

Objective This study aimed to examine the risk factors and prognostic factors of brucellar spondylitis for early prevention and treatment of the disease,and improving the outcomes of patients.Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted on the patients with brucellosis who were hospitalized in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from June 2020 to June 2022.Patients were assigned to brucellosis without spondylitis group or brucellar spondylitis group according to the presence of spondylitis.The patients in brucellar spondylitis group were followed for 1 year.Then they were stratified into a subgroup of good or poor prognosis according to clinical outcomes.The dataset for the demographic and clinical variables of patients were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software.Results A total of 300 patients with brucellosis were enrolled,including 113 cases of brucellosis without spondylitis and 187 cases of brucellar spondylitis.Multivariate analysis showed that age,time from onset to diagnosis,low back pain,and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were independent risk factors for brucellar spondylitis(P＜0.05).Of the 154 cases of brucellar spondylitis with known outcomes,121 cases showed good prognosis and 33 cases had poor prognosis.COX regression analysis showed that the time from onset to diagnosis,diabetes mellitus,paravertebral abscess,and neurological impairment were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with brucellar spondylitis(P＜0.05).Conclusions Old age,prolonged time from onset to diagnosis,low back pain,and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate are independent risk factors for spondylitis in patients with brucellosis.Prolonged time from onset to diagnosis,diabetes mellitus,paravertebral abscess,and neurological impairment are independent risk factors for poor prognosis of brucellar spondylitis.

Objective To explore the clinical value of mini-incision combined with balloon dilatation under the guidance of miniprobe echoendoscope in the treatment of refractory benign esophageal stenosis.Methods From October 2019 to October 2023,30 cases of esophageal early cancer with esophageal scar stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)were selected and randomly divided into study group(miniprobe echoendoscope guided small incision+balloon dilatation,15 cases)and control group[esophageal radial incision(ERI),15 cases],EUS in the study group judged the hierarchical structure of esophageal wall before operation,and excluded those with esophageal cancer recurrence and submucosal invasive growth.According to miniprobe echoendoscope,the length of scar segment and the scope of scar ring lumen were defined,and the location and length of pre-incision were defined,and then balloon was used to expand step by step.The short-term postoperative complications,Stooler dysphagia scale score and restenosis rate of the two groups were observed,and the feasibility,safety and efficacy were evaluated.Results The incidence of short-term postoperative complications 6.7％in the study group was significantly lower than that 46.7％in the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05),and the Stooler dysphagia scale score were(1.133±0.990)and(1.600±0.737)in the study group at 1 and 2 months after operation with significantly lower than those(2.067±1.033)and(2.467±0.915)in the control group,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Two months after operation,the restenosis rate was 13.3％,which was significantly lower than that 46.7％of the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05),and the scar thickness under miniprobe echoendoscope(2.113±0.887)mm was significantly thinner than that(3.353±1.468)mm of the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Preoperative miniprobe echoendoscope evaluation,can accurately locate lesions,endoscopic mini-incision combined with balloon mechanical expansion are safe and effective,with less pain and fewer postoperative complication.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between multiple inflammatory markers and poor outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage,and to compare their predictive abilities.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the patients with intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 1,2015 to March 31,2023.According to the Modified Rankin Scale at 90 days after onset,the patients were divided into good outcome(mRS≤2 points)and poor outcome(mRS score≥3 points).Clinical information,laboratory examinations and follow-up data were compared between the two groups.Inflammatory markers include neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR),platelet to lymphocyte ratio(PLR),monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio(MHR),systemic inflammatory response index(SIRI),systemic immune-inflammation index(SII),white blood cell count to mean platelet volume ratio(WMR),lymphocyte to monocyte ratio(LMR),and systemic coagulation-inflammation index(SCI).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the predictors of poor prognosis after intracerebral hemorrhage,and receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was constructed to compare their predictive ability.Results A total of 510 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage were included.Of those,297(58.2%)had good outcome,and 213(41.8%)had poor outcome.Comparison of baseline characteristics demonstrated that patients with poor prognosis had higher levels of white blood cells,neutrophils,high-density lipoprotein,fibrinogen,NLR,PLR,SIRI,SII,WMR at admission,larger baseline hematoma volume and baseline perihematomal edema volume,a higher proportion of lobar hemorrhage,older age,and lower levels of platelets,lymphocytes,LMR,and SCI(P<0.05).Multivariate regression analysis showed that NLR(OR:1.081,95%CI:1.032～1.1131,P=0.001),SIRI(OR:1.089,95%CI:1.014～1.169,P=0.019),SII(OR:1.000,95%CI:1.000～1.001,P=0.011),WMR(OR:2.627,95%CI:1.267～5.445,P=0.009)were independently associated with poor prognosis in patients with ICH.In ROC analysis,the area under the curve of NLR(0.729,95%CI:0.685～0.774)was higher than SIRI(0.692,95%CI:0.645～0.738),SII(0.688,95%CI:0.641～0.735)and WMR(0.65,95%CI:0.602～0.698)for predicting poor outcomes.Conclusion NLR,SIRI,SII and WMR at admission are independently associated with poor outcomes in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage,and NLR has the strongest predictive ability.

Objective To explore the clinical value of mini-incision combined with balloon dilatation under the guidance of miniprobe echoendoscope in the treatment of refractory benign esophageal stenosis.Methods From October 2019 to October 2023,30 cases of esophageal early cancer with esophageal scar stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)were selected and randomly divided into study group(miniprobe echoendoscope guided small incision+balloon dilatation,15 cases)and control group[esophageal radial incision(ERI),15 cases],EUS in the study group judged the hierarchical structure of esophageal wall before operation,and excluded those with esophageal cancer recurrence and submucosal invasive growth.According to miniprobe echoendoscope,the length of scar segment and the scope of scar ring lumen were defined,and the location and length of pre-incision were defined,and then balloon was used to expand step by step.The short-term postoperative complications,Stooler dysphagia scale score and restenosis rate of the two groups were observed,and the feasibility,safety and efficacy were evaluated.Results The incidence of short-term postoperative complications 6.7％in the study group was significantly lower than that 46.7％in the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05),and the Stooler dysphagia scale score were(1.133±0.990)and(1.600±0.737)in the study group at 1 and 2 months after operation with significantly lower than those(2.067±1.033)and(2.467±0.915)in the control group,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Two months after operation,the restenosis rate was 13.3％,which was significantly lower than that 46.7％of the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05),and the scar thickness under miniprobe echoendoscope(2.113±0.887)mm was significantly thinner than that(3.353±1.468)mm of the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Preoperative miniprobe echoendoscope evaluation,can accurately locate lesions,endoscopic mini-incision combined with balloon mechanical expansion are safe and effective,with less pain and fewer postoperative complication.