Objective To explore the impact of number of positive regional lymph nodes (nPRLN) in N1 stage on the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods Patients with TxN1M0 stage NSCLC who underwent lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection from 2010 to 2015 were screened from SEER database (17 Regs, 2022nov sub). The optimal cutoff value of nPRLN was determined using X-tile software, and patients were divided into 2 groups according to the cutoff value: a nPRLN≤optimal cutoff group and a nPRLN>optimal cutoff group. The influence of confounding factors was minimized by propensity score matching (PSM) at a ratio of 1 : 1. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) of patients. Results A total of 1316 patients with TxN1M0 stage NSCLC were included, including 662 males and 654 females, with a median age of 67 (60, 73) years. The optimal cutoff value of nPRLN was 3, with 1165 patients in the nPRLN≤3 group and 151 patients in the nPRLN>3 group. After PSM, there were 138 patients in each group. Regardless of before or after PSM, OS and LCSS of patients in the nPRLN≤3 group were superior to those in the nPRLN>3 group (P<0.001). N1 stage nPRLN>3 was an independent prognostic risk factor for OS [HR=1.52, 95%CI (1.22, 1.89), P<0.001] and LCSS [HR=1.72, 95%CI (1.36, 2.18), P<0.001]. Conclusion N1 stage nPRLN>3 is an independent prognostic risk factor for NSCLC patients in TxN1M0 stage, which may provide new evidence for future revision of TNM staging N1 stage subclassification.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate potential causal relationships between nine cathepsins and female infertility using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables to investigate the potential causal effects between nine cathepsins and female infertility. Genetic data on female infertility were sourced from the FinnGen study, and cathepsin-related data were obtained from genome-wide association studies datasets of European ancestry. Results: Elevated levels of cathepsin E were significantly and inversely associated with the risk of female infertility, suggesting a potential protective role. This finding was further supported by multivariable MR analysis. However, no significant associations were observed between the other eight cathepsins and female infertility. Conclusion This study represents the first systematic MR analysis to identify a potential protective effect of cathepsin E on female infertility.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate potential causal relationships between nine cathepsins and female infertility using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables to investigate the potential causal effects between nine cathepsins and female infertility. Genetic data on female infertility were sourced from the FinnGen study, and cathepsin-related data were obtained from genome-wide association studies datasets of European ancestry. Results: Elevated levels of cathepsin E were significantly and inversely associated with the risk of female infertility, suggesting a potential protective role. This finding was further supported by multivariable MR analysis. However, no significant associations were observed between the other eight cathepsins and female infertility. Conclusion This study represents the first systematic MR analysis to identify a potential protective effect of cathepsin E on female infertility.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate potential causal relationships between nine cathepsins and female infertility using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables to investigate the potential causal effects between nine cathepsins and female infertility. Genetic data on female infertility were sourced from the FinnGen study, and cathepsin-related data were obtained from genome-wide association studies datasets of European ancestry. Results: Elevated levels of cathepsin E were significantly and inversely associated with the risk of female infertility, suggesting a potential protective role. This finding was further supported by multivariable MR analysis. However, no significant associations were observed between the other eight cathepsins and female infertility. Conclusion This study represents the first systematic MR analysis to identify a potential protective effect of cathepsin E on female infertility.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate potential causal relationships between nine cathepsins and female infertility using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables to investigate the potential causal effects between nine cathepsins and female infertility. Genetic data on female infertility were sourced from the FinnGen study, and cathepsin-related data were obtained from genome-wide association studies datasets of European ancestry. Results: Elevated levels of cathepsin E were significantly and inversely associated with the risk of female infertility, suggesting a potential protective role. This finding was further supported by multivariable MR analysis. However, no significant associations were observed between the other eight cathepsins and female infertility. Conclusion This study represents the first systematic MR analysis to identify a potential protective effect of cathepsin E on female infertility.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate potential causal relationships between nine cathepsins and female infertility using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: A bidirectional MR analysis was conducted utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables to investigate the potential causal effects between nine cathepsins and female infertility. Genetic data on female infertility were sourced from the FinnGen study, and cathepsin-related data were obtained from genome-wide association studies datasets of European ancestry. Results: Elevated levels of cathepsin E were significantly and inversely associated with the risk of female infertility, suggesting a potential protective role. This finding was further supported by multivariable MR analysis. However, no significant associations were observed between the other eight cathepsins and female infertility. Conclusion This study represents the first systematic MR analysis to identify a potential protective effect of cathepsin E on female infertility.

Objective:To investigate effective strategies to reduce the high risk of recurrence after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT)in patients with minimal residual disease(MRD)-positive B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia(B-ALL).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed for ten B-ALL patients with positive MRD before transplantation at our center from November 2022 to November 2024.There were four male patients and six female patients,with a median age of 30(7-56)years.Of all patients,four received transplantation from unrelated donors,and six received haploidentical transplantation from relatives.All ten patients received blinatumomab(28 μg/day for 14 days for patients≥45 kg;5 μg/m2/day for 14 days for patients<45 kg)and were bridged to the conditioning regimen for allo-HSCT within 7 days.Results:After treatment with blinatumomab,all ten patients achieved the clearance of MRD.After allo-HSCT,100%of the patients achieved donor hematopoietic reconstitution.The median time to neutrophil reconstitution was 12(9-22)days,and the median time to platelet reconstitution was 13.5(9-22)days.As of January 2025,the median observation time was 14(2-26)months;of all patients,two experienced recurrence,and one had positive MRD again,with a recurrence rate of 20%.Among the ten patients,nine survived and one died of disease recurrence.One patient achieved complete re-mission again after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell(CAR-T)therapy following recurrence,and the patient with positive MRD achieved the clearance of MRD again after interleukin-2 treatment;both patients were currently alive.During treatment,one patient developed cytokine release syndrome,one patient was comorbid with SARS-CoV-2 infection,one patient had herpes zoster and viral encephalitis,three patients developed grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ acute graft-versus-host disease,and four patients developed chronic graft-versus-host disease;no transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy was observed.Conclusion:For patients with MRD-positive B-ALL,blinatumomab as a bridge therapy for allo-HSCT can significantly reduce recurrence after transplantation,with fewer complica-tions that are easy to control.Multicenter randomized controlled clinical studies can be performed to further verify its efficacy and safety.

Objective To investigate the levels and clinical significance of serum secreted frizzled related protein 5(SFRP5),soluble cell adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1),and Fetuin-B in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)complicated with metabolic syndrome(MS).Methods A total of 142 T2DM patients ad-mitted in the Jiamusi Hospital of Infectious Diseases from April 2021 to April 2023 were selected as the study subjects.T2DM patients were grouped into MS group(n=75)and non MS group(n=67)based on whether they had MS.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to determine the expression levels of serum SFRP5,sICAM-1,and Fetuin-B.Logistic regression was applied to analyze and determine the influen-cing factors of complicated MS in T2DM patients.The diagnostic efficacy of SFRP5,sICAM-1,and Fetuin-B in T2DM patients with MS was analyzed by establishing receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results There were statistically significant differences in HDL-C and HOMA-IR between the MS group and the non MS group(P＜0.05).Compared with the non MS group,the serum SFRP5 level in the MS group de-creased(P＜0.05),while the sICAM-1 and Fetuin-B levels increased(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that SFRP5 and HDL-C were protective factors for the development of MS in T2DM patients(P＜0.05),while sICAM-1,Fetuin-B,and HOMA-IR were risk factors for the development of MS in T2DM pa-tients(P＜0.05).The combination of serum SFRP5,sICAM-1 and Fetuin-B had the largest area under the curve in diagnosing MS in T2DM patients,and its evaluation efficacy was obviously better than that of the in-dividual diagnosis of serum SFRP5,sICAM-1,and Fetuin-B(Zcombination-SFRP5=2.466,P=0.014,Zcombination-SICAM-1=3.550,P＜0.001,Zcombination-Fetuin-B=3.697,P＜0.001).Conclusion The serum SFRP5 level in patients with T2DM complicated with MS decreases,while sICAM-1 and Fetuin-B levels increase.The combination of the three has a good effect in diagnosing complicated MS in T2DM patients.

To identify factors associated with the recurrence of polymyalgia rheumatica(PMR) within one year.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and respiratory function in mechanically ventilated children with severe pneumonia and its prognostic value.Methods:A case-series study.Ninety-two children with severe pneumonia who were treated with mechanical ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit of Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from May 2019 to May 2021 were taken as the study subjects.The IAP and respiratory function-related indexes of the children were monitored.Those with IAP ≥12 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) were divided into the study group, and those with IAP <12 mmHg were divided into the control group.The difference in respiratory function related indexes between the 2 groups was compared, and the relationship between IAP and respiratory function indexes was analyzed by Pearson correlation.The children were divided into a good prognosis group and a poor prognosis group according to their prognosis.The relevant clinical data of the children in the 2 groups were collected for univariate analysis, and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors affecting the prognosis of children with mechanical ventilation for severe pneumonia.A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to analyze the predictive value of IAP on the prognosis of mechanically ventilated children with severe pneumonia.Results:The arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2) [(80.15±8.23) mmHg], arterial blood oxygen saturation (SaO 2) [(91.32±2.13)%], and oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2) [(198.29±20.25) mmHg] in the study group were lower than those in the control group [(85.74±8.42) mmHg, (97.05±2.47)%, and (234.84±25.24) mmHg], while the respiratory rate (RR) [(56.23±2.16) breaths/min vs. (50.41±2.24) breaths/min], partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2) [(36.48±3.72) mmHg vs.(33.29±3.46) mmHg], fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO 2) [(40.42±4.25)% vs.(36.51±3.72)%], mean arterial pressure (MAP) [(55.98±5.69) mmHg vs.(52.79±5.43) mmHg], and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) [(5.03±0.52) cmH 2O vs.(4.52±0.47) cmH 2O, 1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa] were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05).The IAP of the children in the study group was (14.25±1.83) mmHg, and that in the control group was (10.38±1.14) mmHg.Pearson correlation analysis showed that IAP was negatively correlated with PaO 2, SaO 2, and PaO 2/FiO 2 ( r=-0.615, -0.587, and -0.647, all P<0.05), and was positively correlated with RR, PaCO 2, FiO 2, MAP, and PEEP ( r=0.618, 0.634, 0.579, 0.578, 0.593, all P<0.05).IAP [(14.76±1.58) mmHg], PaCO 2 [(39.95±4.21) mmHg], FiO 2 [(50.29±5.12)%], alanine aminotransferase[(42.08±4.15) U/L], and total bilirubin [(17.92±1.87) μmol/L] in the poor prognosis group were greater than those [(10.75±1.19) mmHg, (35.37±3.64) mmHg, (45.38±4.47)%, (39.87±4.06) U/L, and (17.09±1.75) μmol/L] in the good prognosis group, while PaO 2 [(65.42±7.86) mmHg vs.(76.42±7.51) mmHg], SaO 2 [(90.65±9.26)% vs.(96.21±2.19)%], and PaO 2/FiO 2 [(130.09±15.15) mmHg vs.(168.40±20.17) mmHg] were smaller than those in the good prognosis group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that IAP, PaO 2, PaCO 2, and SaO 2 were risk factors affecting the prognosis of mechanically ventilated children with severe pneumonia (all P<0.05).The optimal cut-off point of IAP for predicting a poor prognosis in mechanically ventilated children with severe pneumonia was 14.55 mmHg, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.873, with a sensitivity of 88.10% and a specificity of 76.00%. Conclusions:IAP has a certain relationship with the respiratory function of mechanically ventilated children with severe pneumonia, and has a good predictive value for the prognosis of the children.