Objective:To evaluate the value of ultrasound radiomics combined with machine learning for early diagnosis of seronegative Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (SN-HT) .Methods:This retrospective study included 164 patients from Liaoning Provincial People’s Hospital , Lixin County People’s Hospital, Linghai Dalinghe Hospital, Fengcheng Phoenix Hospital, who underwent thyroidectomy for solitary nodules with normal thyroid function between Nov. 2016 and Jan. 2024. Postoperative pathology confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in some cases, who were further categorized into antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups based on serum antibody status. Patients without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis served as the control group. A total of 298 ultrasound images were analyzed. Radiomics features were extracted from hypoechoic non-nodular areas within 0.5 cm surrounding the tumor. Two senior pathologists and two senior ultrasound physicians independently assessed lymphocytic infiltration, eosinophilic changes of follicular epithelium, and the proportion of hypoechoic areas in pathology and ultrasound images, respectively. A machine learning model, CCH-NET, was developed using linear regression and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) techniques. The dataset was divided into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CCH-NET with that of senior ultrasound physicians. Results:In internal validation, CCH-NET achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 88.89% for both antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups, significantly higher than the 66.67% accuracy of senior ultrasound physicians ( P<0.01). In external validation, CCH-NET achieved 75.00% and 66.67% accuracy for the two groups, compared to 50.00% by senior ultrasound physicians. For the control group, both methods achieved 93.33% accuracy. The AUC of CCH-NET was 0.848, outperforming senior ultrasound physicians (0.681) ,demonstrating superior diagnostic performance. Conclusion:The radiomics-based CCH-NET model, using non-nodular hypoechoic areas as a specific indicator, can accurately identify early SN-HT in euthyroid patients. It significantly outperforms senior ultrasound physicians, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing missed diagnoses.

The prevention and control of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases are crucial for national biosecurity, and surveillance and reporting of pneumonia of unknown etiology are main ways for the early detection of these diseases and mitigation of their severity. This paper summaries the surveillance methods for pneumonia of unknown etiology and emerging and reemerging infectious diseases globally, indicating that such surveillance is mainly conducted based on hospital. Western countries primarily combine active and passive surveillance while utilizing artificial intelligence technology to rapidly identify cases. China mainly use passive surveillance based on the surveillance system for pneumonia of unknown etiology, with the function of early warning in the identification of emerging infectious diseases, such as avian influenza. However, with the improvement in the surveillance system operation, the overlap with other surveillance disease systems, such as influenza, has occurred, and the improvements in case definition and operational protocol are needed. It is recommended to improve the specificity of the case definition, strenthen training in hospital staff, inclduing clinical workers and office workers, and formulate incentive mechanisms. It is necessary to emphasize the responsibility of clinicians as the main force for the detection and reporting of pneumonia of unknown etiology and emerging infectious diseases, improve the appilication of artifical intelligent technique and conduct multi-source surveillance, such as third-party testing.

Loss of protein homeostasis is a hallmark of cellular senescence, and ribosome pausing plays a crucial role in the collapse of proteostasis. However, our understanding of ribosome pausing in senescent cells remains limited. In this study, we utilized ribosome profiling and G-quadruplex RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing techniques to explore the impact of RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) on the translation efficiency in senescent cells. Our results revealed a reduction in the translation efficiency of rG4-rich genes in senescent cells and demonstrated that rG4 structures within coding sequence can impede translation both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, we observed a significant increase in the abundance of rG4 structures in senescent cells, and the stabilization of the rG4 structures further exacerbated cellular senescence. Mechanistically, the RNA helicase DHX9 functions as a key regulator of rG4 abundance, and its reduced expression in senescent cells contributing to increased ribosome pausing. Additionally, we also observed an increased abundance of rG4, an imbalance in protein homeostasis, and reduced DHX9 expression in aged mice. In summary, our findings reveal a novel biological role for rG4 and DHX9 in the regulation of translation and proteostasis, which may have implications for delaying cellular senescence and the aging process.
G-Quadruplexes ; Cellular Senescence ; Ribosomes/genetics* ; Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases/genetics* ; Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA/chemistry* ; Neoplasm Proteins

Invasive Aspergillosis (IA) is a severe filamentous fungal infection caused by opportunistic pathogenic Aspergillus. Due to its insidious incidence and high mortality rate, accurate diagnosis of IA is in urgent need. Recent advances in molecular diagnostic techniques have enabled novel approaches for Aspergillus detection in clinical fungal laboratory. To this end, this paper summarizes recent progress in molecular detection of Aspergillus nucleic acids and discusses its value in IA diagnosis. The findings provide guidance for both current diagnostic approaches and the development of new in vitro diagnostic technologies for IA.

The prevention and control of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases are crucial for national biosecurity, and surveillance and reporting of pneumonia of unknown etiology are main ways for the early detection of these diseases and mitigation of their severity. This paper summaries the surveillance methods for pneumonia of unknown etiology and emerging and reemerging infectious diseases globally, indicating that such surveillance is mainly conducted based on hospital. Western countries primarily combine active and passive surveillance while utilizing artificial intelligence technology to rapidly identify cases. China mainly use passive surveillance based on the surveillance system for pneumonia of unknown etiology, with the function of early warning in the identification of emerging infectious diseases, such as avian influenza. However, with the improvement in the surveillance system operation, the overlap with other surveillance disease systems, such as influenza, has occurred, and the improvements in case definition and operational protocol are needed. It is recommended to improve the specificity of the case definition, strenthen training in hospital staff, inclduing clinical workers and office workers, and formulate incentive mechanisms. It is necessary to emphasize the responsibility of clinicians as the main force for the detection and reporting of pneumonia of unknown etiology and emerging infectious diseases, improve the appilication of artifical intelligent technique and conduct multi-source surveillance, such as third-party testing.

Objective:To investigate the ameliorative effects of N-acetyl-D-mannosamine(ManNAc) on glucose and lipid metabolic disorders in obese mice.Methods:In vivo experiments were conducted using 21 four-week-old C57BL/6JGpt mice, randomly divided into three groups( n=7 per group): a normal control group, a high-fat diet(HFD) control grooup, and a ManNAc treatment group(400 mg·kg -1·d -1). The intervention lasted for 20 weeks. Body weight, food intake, and fasting blood glucose levels were monitored weekly. Glucose tolerance tests(GTT), insulin sensitivity tests(ITT), and respiratory metabolism monitoring were performed in the 17th, 18th, and 19th weeks, respectively. At the end of the experiment, whole-body fat distribution was assessed, and serum lipid profiles were measured. Liver and adipose tissue weights were recorded, and histological analyses including HE staining of liver, adipose and pancreatic tissues were performed. Liver transcriptome sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR) were conducted to evaluate hepatic gene expression. In vitro, a hepatic steatosis model was established by inducing HepG2 cell with 0.4 mmol/L oleic acid, followed by treatment with 500 μg/mL ManNAc. Lipid accumulation was assessed using BODIPY staining, and the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes was quantified by qPCR. Results:ManNAc administration attenuated HFD-induced weight gain, reduced total body fat volume, and decreased liver and adipose tissue weights as well as intracellular lipid accumulation. Pancreatic islet numbers increased, while fasting blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity significantly improved. Serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels were decreased, accompanied by enhanced energy expenditure. Additionally, hepatic expression of Cd36, Fabp3, and Scd1 was downregulated. In vitro, ManNAc significantly reduced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells and downregulated the expression of Cd36, Fabp3, and Scd1 genes.Conclusion:ManNAc may improve glucose and lipid metabolism by modulating the PPARs-mediated fatty acid metabolic pathway, reducing lipogenesis, promoting fatty acid oxidation and energy expenditure, and enhancing insulin sensitivity, ultimately ameliorating disorders in obese mice.

Objective:To study the feasibility of design and harvest of free medial sural artery perforator flap with the "two-point and two-line method".Methods:From September 2022 to June 2023, Suzhou Ruihua Orthopaedic Hospital implemented the "two-point and two-line method" to guide preoperative perforator positioning and flap design. Thirty medial sural artery perforator flaps were successfully harvested with the method, and 21 wounds of hand and 9 of foot and ankle were reconstructed with the flaps. The size of soft tissue defects were 2.5 cm×2.5 cm-7.0 cm×14.5 cm, and the flaps size were 3.0 cm×3.0 cm-7.5 cm×15.0 cm. All donor sites were directly closed or by skin grafting. All patients were entered in 6-15 months of postoperative outpatient follow-up, and the recovery of donor and recipient sites was assessed by the comprehensive evaluation scales. The sensory function of the flaps was evaluated using the sensory function evaluation standard of British Medical Research Council (BMRC).Results:All perforators were successfully located with 47 perforators in total, and all of them were musculocutaneous perforator. It was found that there was 1 perforator in 14 flaps, 2 perforators in 15 flaps and 3 perforators in 1 flap. All 30 flaps survived after surgery, beside 2 flaps that had arterial insufficiency but survived successfully after surgical exploration. All donor sites healed in one stage. Comprehensive evaluation scale of flap was employed to evaluate the flaps and the scores were 84 points to 96 points with an average score of 92.5 points. The excellent and good grades were achieved in 27 flaps and 3 flaps, respectively, with a combined excellent and good rate at 100%. Sensation of the flaps was evaluated by BMRC with 1 flap of S 1, 17 of S 2 and 12 of S 3. Conclusion:The "two-point and two-line method" has been used in design of the perforator flap of medial sural artery. This method is simple and accurate, and is feasible and ideal in design of flaps before surgery.

Objective To investigate the distribution of virulence genes of Klebsiella pneumoniae(KPN)and to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of peg-344 for hypervirulent strains.Methods KPN isolates were col-lected from January to December in 2023 in Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University.Whonet5.6 was used to analyze the distribution and drug resistance of bacterial strains.Toxicity testing included wire string test,PCR amplification of virulence genes(peg-344,rmpA,iutA,iroB),K1 and K2 capsule serotypes,serum resistance test,and diagnostic efficacy of detection was analyzed by using receiver operating characteristic curve.Results A total of 122 KPN isolates were collected,including 45(36.9%)sensitive strains,20(16.4%)extended-spectrum β-lactamase positive strains,and 57(46.7%)carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains.The specimens were mainly isolated from sputum,urine,and blood,and mainly came from Department of Urology,Department of Neurology,Intensive Care Unit,and Department of Neurosurgery.The positive rate of string test was 27.9%.PCR detected K1(12.3%),K2(8.2%),peg-344(62.3%),rmpA(60.7%),and iutA(73.8%),but the iroB result was negative,and strains with multiple virulence genes accounted for 63.1%.The results of the serum resistance test showed that 43.5%,31.1%,and 25.4%of the samples were at levels 1-2,3-4,and 5-6,respectively.peg-344 had the largest area under the curve for diagnosing the hy-pervirulent strains,followed by peg-344+iutA and peg-344+rmpA.Conclusion KPN is widely distributed in the hospital,and there are a variety of virulence genes.peg-344 has clinical value in distinguishing low viru-lence from high virulence in KPN.

Objective:To evaluate the value of ultrasound radiomics combined with machine learning for early diagnosis of seronegative Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (SN-HT) .Methods:This retrospective study included 164 patients from Liaoning Provincial People’s Hospital , Lixin County People’s Hospital, Linghai Dalinghe Hospital, Fengcheng Phoenix Hospital, who underwent thyroidectomy for solitary nodules with normal thyroid function between Nov. 2016 and Jan. 2024. Postoperative pathology confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in some cases, who were further categorized into antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups based on serum antibody status. Patients without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis served as the control group. A total of 298 ultrasound images were analyzed. Radiomics features were extracted from hypoechoic non-nodular areas within 0.5 cm surrounding the tumor. Two senior pathologists and two senior ultrasound physicians independently assessed lymphocytic infiltration, eosinophilic changes of follicular epithelium, and the proportion of hypoechoic areas in pathology and ultrasound images, respectively. A machine learning model, CCH-NET, was developed using linear regression and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) techniques. The dataset was divided into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CCH-NET with that of senior ultrasound physicians. Results:In internal validation, CCH-NET achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 88.89% for both antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups, significantly higher than the 66.67% accuracy of senior ultrasound physicians ( P<0.01). In external validation, CCH-NET achieved 75.00% and 66.67% accuracy for the two groups, compared to 50.00% by senior ultrasound physicians. For the control group, both methods achieved 93.33% accuracy. The AUC of CCH-NET was 0.848, outperforming senior ultrasound physicians (0.681) ,demonstrating superior diagnostic performance. Conclusion:The radiomics-based CCH-NET model, using non-nodular hypoechoic areas as a specific indicator, can accurately identify early SN-HT in euthyroid patients. It significantly outperforms senior ultrasound physicians, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing missed diagnoses.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nebulized inhalation of recombinant human interferon (IFN) α1b injection in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) associated lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia and bronchiolitis) in children.Methods:A randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled add-on design was used.Children with pneumonia or bronchiolitis aged 2 months to 5 years who tested positive for RSV antigen within 72 hours of onset from 30 clinical trial sites including Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University between February 2021 and December 2022 were included in this study and randomly divided into 2 groups at a ratio of 1∶1 based on a stratified-block method.Both groups received basic treatments such as cough control, asthma relieving, expectorant treatment, fever reduction, oxygen therapy, etc.The experimental group received additional nebulized inhalation of IFN α1b injection at a dose of 2.0 μg/(kg·time), twice a day.The control group received nebulized inhalation of placebo twice a day.Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on indicators such as the duration of clinical symptoms and signs, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the median and 95% CI of the duration of clinical symptoms and signs.The Log-rank test was used to compared data between groups.Safety was assessed through the incidence of adverse reactions and laboratory tests, and the Chi-square test was used to analyze the difference between groups. Results:There were 123 children in the experimental group and 122 children in the control group.The median durations of all the 5 clinical symptoms and signs [including shortness of breath, wheezing, dyspnea (visible retractions), decreased transcutaneous oxygen saturation, and abnormal mental state] in the experimental group after treatment were slightly shortened than those in the control group [2.7 d(95% CI: 1.9-3.0 d)] vs.[2.9 d(95% CI: 2.6-3.6 d), P=0.027].The improvement in dyspnea (retractions) was especially pronounced in the experimental group, with a relief rate of 50.0% (0, 100%) on the first day of administration[compared with 0 (0, 50.0%) in the control group ( Z=2.002, P=0.025)].The median duration of dyspnea in the experimental group was nearly 1 day shorter than that in the control group [1.0 d(95% CI: 0.7-1.7 d) vs.1.8 d(95% CI: 1.0-2.5 d), P=0.046].There were no significant difference in hospital stay [6.0(5.0, 8.0) d vs.6.5(5.0, 8.0) d, Z=0.675, P=0.500], oxygen therapy duration [32.0(14.0, 96.3) h vs.39.0 (24.0, 83.2) h, Z=0.094, P=0.925], the recovery rate from clinical symptoms during treatment [(105/106, 99.1%) vs.(96/101, 95.0%)], and recurrence rate [(0/106, 0) vs.(2/101, 2.0%)] between the 2 groups (all P>0.05).However, the above-mentioned four indicators in the experimental group showed a trend of clinical benefits.The quantitative virus detection results showed that the RSV viral load in both groups decreased after treatment compared to before treatment.After 2 days of treatment, the decline rate of RSV viral load from the baseline was 0.90 lg copies/(mL·d) in the experimental group and 0.25 lg copies/(mL·d)in the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.05).Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the 2 groups ( P>0.05).Importantly, no drug-related serious adverse reactions occurred in both groups. Conclusions:The nebulized inhalation therapy of IFN α1b demonstrates efficacy and safety in treating pediatric RSV associated lower respiratory tract infections.It particularly offers outstanding clinical therapeutic value for severe children.