Objective To analyze the influencing factors for postoperative anastomotic leak (AL) in carcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction and construct a nomogram predictive model. Methods The patients who underwent radical esophagectomy at Jinling Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University School of Medicine from January 2018 to June 2020 were included in this study. Relevant variables were screened using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A nomogram was then developed to predict the risk factors associated with postoperative AL. The predictive performance of the nomogram was validated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results A total of 468 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction were included in the study, comprising 354 males and 114 females, with a mean age of (62.8±7.2) years. The tumors were predominantly located in the middle or lower esophagus, and 51 (10.90%) patients experienced postoperative AL. Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age, body mass index (BMI), tumor location, preoperative albumin levels, diabetes mellitus, anastomosis technique, anastomosis site, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were potentially associated with AL (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age, BMI, tumor location, diabetes mellitus, anastomosis technique, and CRP levels as independent risk factors for AL (P<0.05). A nomogram was developed based on the findings from the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.803, indicating a strong concordance between the actual observations and the predicted outcomes. Furthermore, decision curve analysis demonstrated that the newly established nomogram holds significant value for clinical decision-making. Conclusion The predictive model for postoperative AL in patients with carcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction demonstrates strong predictive validity and is essential for guiding clinical monitoring, early detection, and preventive strategies.

Background As one of the key populations in the prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders, it is important to continuously monitor the iodine nutritional level of school-age children. The current reference interval for thyroid volume in China is based on age only, without taking into account differences in individual developmental levels, and the distribution of thyroid volume may vary regionally due to economic, demographic, and environmental factors. The current reference cut-off points for thyroid volume proposed by the World Health Organization are not based on the Chinese population. Objective To understand the iodine nutritional status and distribution of thyroid volume (Tvol) among children aged 8-10 years in Huangpu District, Shanghai, China, to identify impact factors of Tvol, and to propose a reference range upper limit for local thyroid health surveillance, so as to provide a basis for goiter control and prevention. Methods Six hundred children aged 8-10 years in Huangpu District were recruited in 2017, 2020, and 2023, and body height, weight, thyroid volume, urinary iodine, and iodine content of household edible salt were determined. A multilevel model was constructed using population density and area as regional variables, and age, body surface area (BSA), and body mass index (BMI) as potential impact factors for at the individual level, to assess their effects on thyroid volume. Quantile regression of thyroid volume was performed, and the 98th percentile (P₉₈) of thyroid volume was predicted based on age and BSA. Results The iodized salt coverage in the households of surveyed children in 2017, 2020, and 2023 was 72.0%, 57.0%, and 48.0%, respectively, and the iodized salt coverage decreased by year (χ²=24.31, P<0.001). The urinary iodine level of children in 2017 was higher than that in 2020 and 2023 (χ²=18.77, P<0.001). The Tvol medians of children in 2017, 2020, and 2023 were 2.29, 2.49, and 2.97 mL, respectively, and the Tvol increased by year (χ²=60.04, P<0.001). The proportion of goiter was higher in children in 2023 than in 2017 and 2020 (χ²=6.57, P<0.05). Sex differences were not statistically significant for urinary iodine levels, thyroid volume, and goiter. The median Tvol was 2.26, 2.58, and 2.76 mL in children of 8, 9, and 10 years old respectively, and the Tvol increased with age (χ²=49.02, P <0.001). Tvol was positively correlated with age, BSA, and BMI with correlation coefficients of 0.2846, 0.3723, and 0.2950, respectively. The final quantile regression model showed that the strongest effect of BSA was associated with the 98th percentile of Tvol. Multilevel models considering population density or area as regional variables failed to achieve convergence. Conclusion To establish the upper limit of the reference interval for thyroid volume of healthy children in Huangpu District, the effects of age and BSA should be considered at the individual level, and the upper limit of the normal interval for goiter screening is suggested to be the 98th percentile value of BSA at the same age. In addition, the adaptability of population density and regional area as indicators of regional aggregation of thyroid volume distribution still needs to be further explored.

The general models for intermediates quality analysis in the production process of Yaobitong capsule were established by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with chemometrics, realizing the rapid determination of notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rd and moisture. The spray-dried fine powder and total mixed granule were selected as research objects. The contents of five saponins were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and the moisture content was determined by drying method. The measured contents were used as reference values. Meanwhile, NIR spectra were collected. After removing abnormal samples by Monte Carlo cross validation (MCCV), Monte Carlo uninformative variables elimination (MC-UVE) and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) were used to select feature variables respectively. Based on the feature variables, quantitative models were established by partial least squares regression (PLSR), extreme learning machine (ELM) and ant lion optimization least squares support vector machine (ALO-LSSVM). The results showed that CARS-ALO-LSSVM model had the optimum effect. The correlation coefficients of the six index components were greater than 0.93, and the relative standard errors were controlled within 6%. ALO-LSSVM was more suitable for a large number of samples with rich information, and the prediction effect and stability of the model were significantly improved. The general models with good predicting effect can be used for the rapid quality determination of Yaobitong capsule intermediates.

Objective: To investigate the role of butyric acid-producing bacteria in long bone homeostasis in mice with periodontitis under a high-fat/high-sugar diet and to provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis and related bone metabolic diseases. Methods: This study has been approved by the Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee of the Experimental Animal Center. Initially, 14 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group) and the LIG group (the periodontitis group). Mice in the LIG group had experimental periodontitis induced by ligating the second maxillary molars bilaterally and were fed a high-fat and high-sugar diet. After 8 weeks, samples were collected. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) was used to analyze alveolar bone resorption and various parameters of the proximal tibia trabecular bone, including bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume per tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). After decalcification, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed on maxillary bone sections to assess periodontal tissue inflammation and connective tissue destruction. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect related genes in the distal femur and proximal tibia bone tissues, including osteocalcin (OCN), osteogenic transcription factor (Osterix), osteoprotegerin (OPG), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANK-L). Subsequently, the other 28 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group), LIG group (the periodontitis group), CON + butyric acid-producing bacteria (BP) group, and LIG + BP group. The breeding, sampling, and sample detection methods remained the same. Finally, the other 28 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group), LIG group (the periodontitis group), CON + sodium butyrate (SB) group, and LIG + SB group. The breeding, sampling, and sample detection methods remained the same. Results: ①Periodontitis modeling was successful. Compared with the CON group, the LIG group exhibited significant alveolar bone resorption of the maxillary second molar, aggravated periodontal tissue inflammation, and connective tissue destruction. ②Periodontitis exacerbated long bone resorption in mice fed a high-fat high-sugar diet. Compared with the CON group, the LIG group had significantly lower BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, and Tb.Th (P<0.05), and significantly higher Tb.Sp (P<0.05). HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that the trabeculae in the LIG group were sparse and disordered, with some areas showing fractures or dissolution. The expression of osteoblast markers (OCN, Osterix, OPG) was significantly lower in the LIG group (P<0.05), while the expression of the osteoclast marker TRAP showed an increasing trend (P>0.05). The ratio of RANK-L/OPG was significantly higher in the LIG group compared with the CON group (P<0.05). ③ Supplementation with butyric acid-producing bacteria alleviates periodontitis-induced disruption of long bone homeostasis in mice fed a high-fat/high-sugar diet. Compared with the LIG group, BMD and Tb.Th were significantly higher in the LIG + BP group. HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that bone resorption was mitigated in the LIG + BP group compared with the LIG group. The expression of OCN and Osterix was significantly higher in the LIG + BP group, while the expression of osteoclast-specific genes (OSCAR, RANK, RANK-L) was significantly lower (P<0.05). ④ Supplementation with butyrate alleviates periodontitis-induced disruption of long bone homeostasis in mice fed a high-fat/high-sugar diet. Compared with the LIG group, BV/TV and Tb.N were significantly higher in the LIG + SB group, and Tb.Sp was significantly lower (P<0.05). HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that bone resorption was mitigated in the LIG + SB group compared with the LIG group. The expression of Osterix, OPG, OSCAR, TRAP, and RANK was significantly lower in the LIG + SB group compared with the LIG group (P<0.05). Conclusion Periodontitis disrupts the long bone homeostasis of mice fed a high-fat high-sugar diet, aggravating long bone resorption. Supplementation with butyric acid-producing bacteria or butyrate can effectively alleviate the disruption of long bone homeostasis caused by periodontitis.

It is difficult to determine a cause of bile duct stricture and dilatation. Eosinophilic cholangitis, a rare benign condition, may be one cause of bile duct stricture and dilatation. It can be evaluated using various methods of histopathology, radiographs, endoscopy, and hematologic findings. Treatment generally involves steroid therapy which can lead to improvement. This case report will discuss eosinophilic cholangitis, emphasizing that while it can easily be overlooked but should be considered in differential diagnoses.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

Purpose: This study compared the diagnostic performance of two attenuation imaging (ATI) modes—low-frequency (3 MHz) and high-frequency (4 MHz)—for assessing hepatic steatosis, with histopathological hepatic fat fraction (HFF) as the reference standard. Methods: This prospective single-center study enrolled participants with suspected metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) scheduled for liver biopsy or surgery between June 2023 and June 2024. Attenuation coefficient (AC) values were consecutively measured using low- and high-frequency ATI modes, while the skin-to-region of interest distance (SRD) was measured simultaneously. Spearman correlation analysis evaluated the relationships of AC with HFF and SRD, and linear regression identified factors affecting AC. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Results: In total, 119 participants (mean age, 37.2±12.0 years; 87 men) were included, with 73 (61.3%) diagnosed with MASLD. HFF ranged from 0% to 50%. The AC values in the lowfrequency mode were significantly higher than those in the high-frequency mode (0.61 vs. 0.54 dB/cm/MHz, P<0.001). HFF significantly influenced AC in both modes, whereas SRD affected AC only in the high-frequency mode (P<0.001). AC correlated positively with HFF in both modes (r_s≥0.514, P<0.001) and negatively with SRD in the high-frequency mode (r_s=-0.338, P<0.001). The AUROC for hepatic steatosis did not differ significantly between the two modes (0.751 vs. 0.771; P=0.609). Conclusion The low-frequency mode produced higher AC values than the high-frequency mode and demonstrated comparable diagnostic accuracy for assessing hepatic steatosis. Unlike the high-frequency mode, the low-frequency mode was not influenced by SRD.

It is difficult to determine a cause of bile duct stricture and dilatation. Eosinophilic cholangitis, a rare benign condition, may be one cause of bile duct stricture and dilatation. It can be evaluated using various methods of histopathology, radiographs, endoscopy, and hematologic findings. Treatment generally involves steroid therapy which can lead to improvement. This case report will discuss eosinophilic cholangitis, emphasizing that while it can easily be overlooked but should be considered in differential diagnoses.

Background: This study established sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematological parameters, including the monocyte distribution width (MDW), in Korean adults and assessed the need for separate RIs according to sex in older adults. Methods: Hematological parameters were measured using a DxH 900 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) on 328 peripheral blood samples from 124 men and 204 women aged 19–93 years. Results: The RIs for white blood cells, red blood cells (RBCs), Hb, Hct, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, monocyte percentage, and neutrophil, eosinophil, lympho­cyte, and monocyte counts differed significantly by sex (P<0.05). Mean corpuscular volume was significantly positively associated with age, whereas RBC and platelet counts were significantly negatively correlated with age in both men and women. Age-based analysis revealed significant shifts in the RBC parameters beginning at 60 years of age in men and 70 years of age in women. The MDW did not show significant differences according to sex or age. Conclusions This study supports the use of sex-specific RIs and highlights the importance of considering age when interpreting results regarding hematological parameters in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to use plasma metabolites to identify clusters of breast cancer survivors and to compare their dietary characteristics and health-related factors across the clusters using unsupervised machine learning. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 419 breast cancer survivors were included in this crosssectional study. We considered 30 plasma metabolites, quantified by high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics. Clusters were obtained based on metabolites using 4 different unsupervised clustering methods: k-means (KM), partitioning around medoids (PAM), self-organizing maps (SOM), and hierarchical agglomerative clustering (HAC). The t-test, χ2 test, and Fisher’s exact test were used to compare sociodemographic, lifestyle, clinical, and dietary characteristics across the clusters. P-values were adjusted through a false discovery rate (FDR). RESULTS: Two clusters were identified using the 4 methods. Participants in cluster 2 had lower concentrations of apolipoprotein A1 and large high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles and smaller HDL particle sizes, but higher concentrations of chylomicrons and extremely large very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL) particles and glycoprotein acetyls, a higher ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to total fatty acids, and larger VLDL particle sizes compared with cluster 1. Body mass index was significantly higher in cluster 2 compared with cluster 1 (FDR adjusted-PKM < 0.001; PPAM = 0.001; PSOM < 0.001; and PHAC = 0.043). CONCLUSION The breast cancer survivors clustered on the basis of plasma metabolites had distinct characteristics. Further prospective studies are needed to investigate the associations between metabolites, obesity, dietary factors, and breast cancer prognosis.