1.Exploration of Training System for Visiting Physicians in Department of Rare Diseases
Jiayuan DAI ; Jing XIE ; Jingjing CHAI ; Yueying MAO ; Chunlei LI ; Yaping LIU ; Jin XU ; Min SHEN ; Shuyang ZHANG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(1):112-116
The construction of a training system for visiting physicians in the department of rare diseases in China is an important measure to improve the overall diagnosis and treatment capacity for rare diseases and address the critical challenge of insufficient knowledge and skills among clinicians in practice. This article systematically describes the visiting physician training system established by the Department of Rare Diseases at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. It summarizes the training objectives and positioning, design logic, and learning modules of the system, aiming to provide a reference for the construction of the specialized talent team for rare diseases in China.
2.Efficacy Analysis of Imatinib Neoadjuvant Therapy in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Rectal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Jiayuan DAI ; Jin XU ; Min SHEN ; Yi XIAO ; Guole LIN ; Junyang LU
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(1):27-33
To investigate the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant imatinib in the treatment of rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Patients with rectal GIST who underwent surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2015 to January 2025 were included. Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the neoadjuvant therapy group (received preoperative imatinib) and the control group (underwent direct surgery without preoperative imatinib). Clinical outcomes and recurrence rates were compared between the two groups. A total of 74 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included, with 43 included in the neoadjuvant therapy group and 31 included in the control group. Baseline evaluation showed that the median tumor diameter was significantly larger in the neoadjuvant therapy group than that in the control group [5.0(2.9, 7.1)cm Neoadjuvant therapy with imatinib can effectively reduce tumor volume in patients with rectal GIST. However, its therapeutic benefit still needs to be further validated by prospective, large-sample clinical studies with long-term follow-up.
3.A Case of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex with Multiple Organ Involvement Caused by TSC2 Gene Mutation
Hongli ZHANG ; Jiayuan DAI ; Yan WANG ; Weihong ZHANG ; Wenbin MA ; Hanhui FU ; Chunxia HE ; Jun ZHENG ; Wenda WANG ; Wei ZUO ; Yaping LIU ; Min SHEN
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(1):60-67
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder primarily caused by pathogenic variants in the
4.Dose response relationship between sleep duration and depressive symptoms risk in children and adolescents
DAI Chaolan, ZHAO Min, WANG Mingming, XI Bo
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(1):80-84
Objective:
To investigate the association between sleep duration and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents, so as to provide scientific evidence for promoting mental health and preventing depression among relevant populations.
Methods:
A total of 2 192 children and adolescents aged 10-17 years with complete data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies Database were included. Eight item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressive Scale(CES-D8) was used to assess participants depressive levels, and sleep duration was assessed via questionnaire. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between different sleep duration categories and depressive symptom occurrence among children and adolescents. A restricted cubic spline(RCS) model analyzed the dose response relationship between sleep duration and the risk of depressive symptoms occurrence and segmented Logistic regression models to identify dose response effects.
Results:
Among the surveyed children and adolescents, 524(23.91%) exhibited depressive symptoms. Compared to those with sufficient sleep, children aged 10-12 years had a higher risk of depressive symptoms on average per day( OR =1.66, 95% CI =1.19-2.33) and during weekdays( OR =1.76, 95% CI =1.26-2.46), as well as in adolescents aged 13-17 years on a daily basis( OR =1.40,95% CI =1.06-1.85) and during weekdays( OR = 1.48,95% CI =1.12-1.95), and excessive sleep in adolescents on rest days was also significantly associated with higher risk of depressive symptoms( OR =1.65,95% CI =1.11-2.43)(all P <0.05). RCS analysis results indicate that children s sleep duration exhibits a linear negative correlation with the risk of depressive symptoms(all P nonlinear >0.05), while adolescents sleep duration showed a U shaped association with depressive symptoms(all P nonlinear <0.05) on a daily basis, during weekdays and weekends, with potential threshold effects at 10.00, 9.88, and 9.60 hours, respectively.
Conclusions
Sleep duration among children and adolescents is associated with depressive symptoms, with notable age related differeneces. It is recommended to develop targeted age specific interventions to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents.
5.Long-term survival outcomes and prognostic factors following radical resection of pancreatic body and tail cancer:a retrospective analysis of 992 patients
Dong XU ; Yang WU ; Kai ZHANG ; Nan LYU ; Qianqian WANG ; Pengfei WU ; Jie YIN ; Baobao CAI ; Guodong SHI ; Jianzhen LIN ; Yazhou WANG ; Lingdi YIN ; Zipeng LU ; Min TU ; Jianmin CHEN ; Feng GUO ; Jishu WEI ; Junli WU ; Wentao GAO ; Cuncai DAI ; Yi MIAO ; Kuirong JIANG
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2026;64(1):46-54
Objective:To investigate the survival outcomes and prognostic factors in patients undergoing radical resection for pancreatic body and tail cancer.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted on 992 patients who underwent radical resection for pancreatic body and tail cancer at the Pancreatic Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2016 to June 2024. In this study, 577 (58.2%) were male and 415 (41.8%) were female,with an age of (65±9) years (range: 26 to 86 years). Follow-up continued until June 2024. Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method,and prognostic factors were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models.Results:Among 992 patients,open surgery was the predominant approach (89.1%, 884/992), and radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) was performed in 317 patients (32.0%). Combined organ resection,venous resection,and arterial resection were performed in 23.5%, 9.3%,and 11.2% of patients,respectively. The rates of R0, R1-1 mm, and R1-direct resections were 49.8% (494/992),41.5% (412/992), and 8.7% (86/992),respectively. Stage ⅡB was the most common TNM stage (32.2%,319/992). A total of 801 patients (80.8%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up period was 32.0(8.8) months(range:3.2 to 105.3 months),during which 508 patients (51.2%) died. The overall median survival (OS) was 26.4 months,with 1-,3-, and 5-year survival rates of 79.0%,40.0%, and 29.0%, respectively. In the recent five years (from 2020 to 2024), the median OS improved significantly to 34.1 months compared to 20.0 months from 2016 to 2019 ( P<0.01). Histological subtype analysis showed that the median OS time was 26.7 months for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC, n=855),58.9 months for invasive intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma (IPMC, n=32),and 15.7 months for adenosquamous carcinoma of pancreas (ASCP, n=73) ( P=0.001). Among PDAC patients, adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved survival (29.1 months vs. 14.4 months, P<0.01);in IPMC patients, adjuvant chemotherapy also extended survival (65.7 months vs. 58.9 months, P=0.047). Although ASCP patients receiving chemotherapy had a longer median OS time than those without (18.8 months vs. 8.9 months),the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.151). Multivariate Cox regression analysis in PDAC patients indicated that adjuvant chemotherapy, R0 resection, T stage,N stage,and tumor differentiation were independent prognostic factors ( P<0.01). The median OS time by TNM stage was:not reached for stage ⅠA, 51.6 months for ⅠB, 25.5 months for ⅡA, 23.7 months for ⅡB, 23.0 months for Ⅲ, and 14.4 months for Ⅳ. The median OS time for R0,R1-1 mm,and R1-direct resections was 34.1,24.7,and 15.7 months,respectively ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Adjuvant chemotherapy,R0 resection,tumor stage,and differentiation are independent prognostic factors for pancreatic body and tail cancer.
6.Constructing a rat animal model of pelvic organ prolapse:a comparison of three modeling methods
Jing YANG ; Houmei WANG ; Yi WANG ; Min SONG ; Jie REN ; Lujun DAI ; Ziwen XIAO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(4):864-872
BACKGROUND:Currently,there are many modeling methods for pelvic organ prolapse animal models,and the commonly used methods are vaginal balloon dilatation,oophorectomy and the combination of the two.There is no study comparing the three modeling methods in detail.OBJECTIVE:To construct and validate a rat animal model of pelvic organ prolapse using three different methods and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of various models.METHODS:Seventy-two 8-week SPF-grade female Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups,namely,vaginal balloon dilatation group,ovariectomy group,ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilatation group(the combined group),and the sham-operated group(no ovariectomy and no vaginal dilatation).The vaginal wall tissues of rats were collected at 4,8 and 12 weeks after the operation for hematoxylin-eosin staining,Masson staining,EVG staining and immunohistochemical staining of α-smooth muscle actin,Vimentin and matrix metalloproteinase 9 detection,and the pelvic floor muscle tissues were taken at 4,8 and 12 weeks after the operation for hematoxylin-eosin staining,Masson staining and EVG staining.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Hematoxylin-eosi staining showed that there was no significant difference in the decrease of vaginal epithelial layer thickness in the vaginal balloon dilatation group compared with the sham-operated group,(P>0.05),while the thickness of the vaginal epithelial layer was significantly reduced in the ovariectomy group and the ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilation group(P<0.001),and the reduction was more significant in the ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilation group,remained stable at 8 weeks after surgery and lasted until 12 weeks.(2)The changes in the content of collagen fibers and elastic fibers in the vaginal wall stained by Masson and EVG staining were the same as the changes in the thickness of the vaginal epithelial layer stained by hematoxylin-eosin,and there were no changes in collagen fibers and elastic fibers in the pelvic floor muscle tissues of the treatment groups.(3)At 4,8 and 12 weeks after treatment,there was no significant difference in the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin,Vimentin and matrix metalloproteinase 9 in the vaginal wall tissue of the balloon dilation group compared with the control group(P>0.05),whereas the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin and Vimentin were significantly decreased in the ovariectomy group and ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilation group(P<0.01)and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 showed a significant increase(P<0.01),with a more pronounced increase in the ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilation group,and the increase reached a stable state at 8 weeks after surgery and could persist up to 12 weeks.To conclude,vaginal balloon dilatation could not maintain the degeneration of pelvic organ prolapse formed by the vaginal wall for a long period,and both ovariectomy and the combined method can be used.Ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilatation can significantly accelerate and aggravate the formation of typical histological features of pelvic organ prolapse in vaginal wall tissues,effectively shorten the experimental period,and improve the efficiency.These effects reach a stable state at 8 weeks after surgery and can be sustained up to 12 weeks,which is practical and convenient for the study of pelvic organ prolapse animal models.
7.Constructing a rat animal model of pelvic organ prolapse:a comparison of three modeling methods
Jing YANG ; Houmei WANG ; Yi WANG ; Min SONG ; Jie REN ; Lujun DAI ; Ziwen XIAO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(4):864-872
BACKGROUND:Currently,there are many modeling methods for pelvic organ prolapse animal models,and the commonly used methods are vaginal balloon dilatation,oophorectomy and the combination of the two.There is no study comparing the three modeling methods in detail.OBJECTIVE:To construct and validate a rat animal model of pelvic organ prolapse using three different methods and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of various models.METHODS:Seventy-two 8-week SPF-grade female Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups,namely,vaginal balloon dilatation group,ovariectomy group,ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilatation group(the combined group),and the sham-operated group(no ovariectomy and no vaginal dilatation).The vaginal wall tissues of rats were collected at 4,8 and 12 weeks after the operation for hematoxylin-eosin staining,Masson staining,EVG staining and immunohistochemical staining of α-smooth muscle actin,Vimentin and matrix metalloproteinase 9 detection,and the pelvic floor muscle tissues were taken at 4,8 and 12 weeks after the operation for hematoxylin-eosin staining,Masson staining and EVG staining.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Hematoxylin-eosi staining showed that there was no significant difference in the decrease of vaginal epithelial layer thickness in the vaginal balloon dilatation group compared with the sham-operated group,(P>0.05),while the thickness of the vaginal epithelial layer was significantly reduced in the ovariectomy group and the ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilation group(P<0.001),and the reduction was more significant in the ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilation group,remained stable at 8 weeks after surgery and lasted until 12 weeks.(2)The changes in the content of collagen fibers and elastic fibers in the vaginal wall stained by Masson and EVG staining were the same as the changes in the thickness of the vaginal epithelial layer stained by hematoxylin-eosin,and there were no changes in collagen fibers and elastic fibers in the pelvic floor muscle tissues of the treatment groups.(3)At 4,8 and 12 weeks after treatment,there was no significant difference in the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin,Vimentin and matrix metalloproteinase 9 in the vaginal wall tissue of the balloon dilation group compared with the control group(P>0.05),whereas the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin and Vimentin were significantly decreased in the ovariectomy group and ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilation group(P<0.01)and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 showed a significant increase(P<0.01),with a more pronounced increase in the ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilation group,and the increase reached a stable state at 8 weeks after surgery and could persist up to 12 weeks.To conclude,vaginal balloon dilatation could not maintain the degeneration of pelvic organ prolapse formed by the vaginal wall for a long period,and both ovariectomy and the combined method can be used.Ovariectomy combined with vaginal balloon dilatation can significantly accelerate and aggravate the formation of typical histological features of pelvic organ prolapse in vaginal wall tissues,effectively shorten the experimental period,and improve the efficiency.These effects reach a stable state at 8 weeks after surgery and can be sustained up to 12 weeks,which is practical and convenient for the study of pelvic organ prolapse animal models.
8.Disease Burden and Associated Risk Factors for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer in the World, China and the United States
Yuqing CHEN ; Yueyang ZHOU ; Xinran CHENG ; Bin LU ; Min DAI ; Hongda CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(4):1164-1173
To evaluate and project the disease burden of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC), and to identify its major risk factors. Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 were used. EOCRC was defined as colorectal cancer diagnosed at ages 15-49 years. We extracted the absolute numbers and crude rates of incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of EOCRC in the world, China, and the United States from 1990 to 2021. Age-standardized rates were then calculated accordingly, and the associated risk factors were summarized. Joinpoint regression was applied to assess temporal trends in global EOCRC age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), mortality rate (ASMR), and DALY rate. The Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was used to project the EOCRC burden from 2022 to 2040. In 2021, an estimated 211 900 new EOCRC cases were reported globally, corresponding to an ASIR of 5.37 per 100 000, along with 79 500 deaths and a total of 4.00 million DALYs lost. China experienced a substantially higher burden than the global average, with an ASIR of 10.02 per 100 000, an ASMR of 3.11 per 100 000, and an age-standardized DALYs rate(ASDR) of 160.93 per 100 000, disproportionately affecting males. The United States had a higher ASIR(10.73 per 100 000) than China, but exhibited lower ASMR(2.53 per 100 000) and ASDR(127.81 per 100 000). From 1990 to 2021, ASIRs increased globally (AAPC=0.374) and more markedly in China (AAPC=1.423), whereas ASMR (AAPC=-0.855) and DALY rates (AAPC=-0.834) declined. In China, ASMR and DALY rates declined overall but rebounded in recent years, whereas in the United States, ASIR began to decrease after 2017, while ASMR and DALY rates remained relatively stable. By sex, China's male ASIR increased by 89.7% between 1990 and 2021, with rises also observed in ASMR and DALY rates in recent years. Regarding risk factors, insufficient whole-grain intake and excessive red meat consumption emerged as the leading modifiable contributors to EOCRC mortality and DALYs both globally and in the two countries, jointly accounting for 31.20% and 30.82% of the global burden, respectively. Heavy alcohol consumption and tobacco use were particularly significant contributors among Chinese men. Projections indicated that by 2040, China's ASIR is projected to rise to 17.04 per 100 000, indicating a continued increase in disease burden, whereas the United States is expected to maintain a downward trend. Although China's EOCRC mortality and DALY burden have declined over the past three decades, the incidence remains markedly higher and is rising more rapidly compared with the global level and the U.S. More effective public health strategies are urgently needed, including promoting earlier and wider implementation of colorectal cancer screening, strengthening follow-up and referral systems, improving dietary structure, and intensifying tobacco and alcohol control, to mitigate the growing burden of EOCRC.
9.Long-term survival outcomes and prognostic factors following radical resection of pancreatic body and tail cancer:a retrospective analysis of 992 patients
Dong XU ; Yang WU ; Kai ZHANG ; Nan LYU ; Qianqian WANG ; Pengfei WU ; Jie YIN ; Baobao CAI ; Guodong SHI ; Jianzhen LIN ; Yazhou WANG ; Lingdi YIN ; Zipeng LU ; Min TU ; Jianmin CHEN ; Feng GUO ; Jishu WEI ; Junli WU ; Wentao GAO ; Cuncai DAI ; Yi MIAO ; Kuirong JIANG
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2026;64(1):46-54
Objective:To investigate the survival outcomes and prognostic factors in patients undergoing radical resection for pancreatic body and tail cancer.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted on 992 patients who underwent radical resection for pancreatic body and tail cancer at the Pancreatic Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2016 to June 2024. In this study, 577 (58.2%) were male and 415 (41.8%) were female,with an age of (65±9) years (range: 26 to 86 years). Follow-up continued until June 2024. Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method,and prognostic factors were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models.Results:Among 992 patients,open surgery was the predominant approach (89.1%, 884/992), and radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) was performed in 317 patients (32.0%). Combined organ resection,venous resection,and arterial resection were performed in 23.5%, 9.3%,and 11.2% of patients,respectively. The rates of R0, R1-1 mm, and R1-direct resections were 49.8% (494/992),41.5% (412/992), and 8.7% (86/992),respectively. Stage ⅡB was the most common TNM stage (32.2%,319/992). A total of 801 patients (80.8%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up period was 32.0(8.8) months(range:3.2 to 105.3 months),during which 508 patients (51.2%) died. The overall median survival (OS) was 26.4 months,with 1-,3-, and 5-year survival rates of 79.0%,40.0%, and 29.0%, respectively. In the recent five years (from 2020 to 2024), the median OS improved significantly to 34.1 months compared to 20.0 months from 2016 to 2019 ( P<0.01). Histological subtype analysis showed that the median OS time was 26.7 months for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC, n=855),58.9 months for invasive intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma (IPMC, n=32),and 15.7 months for adenosquamous carcinoma of pancreas (ASCP, n=73) ( P=0.001). Among PDAC patients, adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved survival (29.1 months vs. 14.4 months, P<0.01);in IPMC patients, adjuvant chemotherapy also extended survival (65.7 months vs. 58.9 months, P=0.047). Although ASCP patients receiving chemotherapy had a longer median OS time than those without (18.8 months vs. 8.9 months),the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.151). Multivariate Cox regression analysis in PDAC patients indicated that adjuvant chemotherapy, R0 resection, T stage,N stage,and tumor differentiation were independent prognostic factors ( P<0.01). The median OS time by TNM stage was:not reached for stage ⅠA, 51.6 months for ⅠB, 25.5 months for ⅡA, 23.7 months for ⅡB, 23.0 months for Ⅲ, and 14.4 months for Ⅳ. The median OS time for R0,R1-1 mm,and R1-direct resections was 34.1,24.7,and 15.7 months,respectively ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Adjuvant chemotherapy,R0 resection,tumor stage,and differentiation are independent prognostic factors for pancreatic body and tail cancer.
10.Analysis of Clinical and Genetic Characteristics of SELENON-Related Myopathy
Xiaohong HUANG ; Min QIAN ; Lin CHEN ; Liying CUI ; Yi DAI
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(2):200-206
To summarize the clinical characteristics and genetic mutation spectrum of patients with SELENON-related myopathy(SELENON-RM), in order to improve awareness among physicians. A total of 12 patients from independent families with genetically confirmed SELENON-RM at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2016 and December 2025 were retrospectively included. Clinical data were collected, and their clinical and genetic features were analyzed. The mean age at presentation was(16.7±9.7) years(range: 6-35 years), with males accounting for 66.7%(8/12). Patients presented with delayed motor development since early childhood, followed by a relatively stable disease course without significant progression over several years. Among 10 patients tested for serum creatine kinase, 4 had normal levels and 6 showed elevated levels. Electromyography performed in 9 patients indicated myogenic damage in both upper and lower limbs. Muscle biopsy in 6 patients revealed myopathic changes, including variation in muscle fiber size and fiber-type disproportion with predominance of type Ⅰ fibers. Pulmonary function tests in 5 patients demonstrated restrictive ventilatory defects. Overnight polysomnography in 6 patients revealed severe nocturnal hypoxemia. Genetic analysis showed that among the 12 patients, 9 patients had compound heterozygous mutations in the Patients with SELENON-RM usually develop symptoms in early life, presenting with motor developmental delay, scoliosis or rigid spine, and frequently with occult but significant respiratory involvement. Patients in this study appear to predominantly carry compound heterozygous variants, and exons 1 and 11 of the


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