1.Predicting Postoperative Progression of Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Cervical Spine Using Interpretable Radiomics Models
Siyuan QIN ; Ruomu QU ; Ke LIU ; Ruixin YAN ; Weili ZHAO ; Jun XU ; Enlong ZHANG ; Feifei ZHOU ; Ning LANG
Neurospine 2025;22(1):144-156
Objective:
This study investigates the potential of radiomics to predict postoperative progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) after posterior cervical spine surgery.
Methods:
This retrospective study included 473 patients diagnosed with OPLL at Peking University Third Hospital between October 2006 and September 2022. Patients underwent posterior spinal surgery and had at least 2 computed tomography (CT) examinations spaced at least 1 year apart. OPLL progression was defined as an annual growth rate exceeding 7.5%. Radiomic features were extracted from preoperative CT images of the OPLL lesions, followed by feature selection using correlation coefficient analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis. Univariable analysis identified significant clinical variables for constructing the clinical model. Logistic regression models, including the Rad-score model, clinical model, and combined model, were developed to predict OPLL progression.
Results:
Of the 473 patients, 191 (40.4%) experienced OPLL progression. On the testing set, the combined model, which incorporated the Rad-score and clinical variables (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.751), outperformed both the radiomics-only model (AUC = 0.693) and the clinical model (AUC = 0.620). Calibration curves demonstrated good agreement between predicted probabilities and observed outcomes, and decision curve analysis confirmed the clinical utility of the combined model. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis indicated that the Rad-score and age were key contributors to the model’s predictions, enhancing clinical interpretability.
Conclusion
Radiomics, combined with clinical variables, provides a valuable predictive tool for assessing the risk of postoperative progression in cervical OPLL, supporting more personalized treatment strategies. Prospective, multicenter validation is needed to confirm the utility of the model in broader clinical settings.
2.Diagnostic value of plasma heparin-binding protein in the bloodstream infection of tumor patients
Chenyun QU ; Ning DING ; Aner LUO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science 2025;43(10):737-741
Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of plasma heparin-binding protein(HBP)in the bloodstream infection of tumor patients.Methods The tumor patients treated at Ruijin Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from Janu-ary 2023 to December 2023 were selected and further divided into the following three groups:124 patients with positive blood cultures(bloodstream infection group),95 with negative blood cultures but positive cultures from other body fluids(culture-positive group),and 100 with negative bacterial cultures(culture-negative group).The levels of HBP,procalcitonin(PCT),C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin 6(IL-6),white blood cell(WBC),and neutrophil(NE)in the three groups were detected.The level differences of each indicator among three groups were compared.The differences in the expression levels of HBP in the bloodstream infection group with different pathogens such as Gram-negative bacteria,Gram-positive bacteria,and fungi were also compared.The Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of each indicator for the risk of bloodstream infection.The receiver operating char-acteristics(ROC)curve was used to assess the diagnostic value of each indicator alone and in combination for the bloodstream infection of tumor patients.Results The expression level of HBP in the bloodstream infection group(32.14[14.01,110.40]ng/mL)was sig-nificantly higher than that in the culture-positive group(23.00[5.90,54.87]ng/mL,t=5.39,P<0.05),and both of them were sig-nificantly higher than that in the culture-negative group(6.80[5.90,16.05]ng/mL,Z=47.248,P<0.05).HBP had a certain clini-cal predictive value for the occurrence of bloodstream infection in tumor patients(OR=1.017,95%CI:1.008~1.027,P<0.001).In addition,the levels of HBP in the Gram-negative bacterial infection group(78.04[21.60,157.20]ng/mL)were significantly higher than that in the Gram-positive bacterial infection group(51.00[18.45,106.50]ng/mL,t=2.01,P<0.05),and both of them were significantly higher than that in the fungal infection group(5.90[5.90,14.17]ng/mL,Z=3.40,P<0.05).The area under the ROC curve(AUCROC),sensitivity,and specificity of HBP for the diagnosis of bloodstream infection in tumor patients were 0.717,67.37%,and 67.26%,respectively,which were superior to those of PCT(0.700,77.17%,and 52.14%),CRP(0.667,63.16%,and 62.39%),and IL-6(0.629,60.47%,and 60.47%).The AUCROC,sensitivity,and specificity of the combination of HBP,CRP,PCT,and IL-6 were 0.739,70.24%,and 68.42%,respectively,which were better than those of each indicator alone.Conclusion The detection of HBP has high clinical application value in the diagnosis of bloodstream infections of tumor patients and may serve as a potential biomarker for the bloodstream infection of tumor patients.
3.Long noncoding RNA LINC01615 promotes malignant phenotypes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells by up-regulating TEAD2 expres-sion
Bo WU ; Penghui ZHANG ; Ning GAO ; Huimin ZHANG ; Keyao XING ; Moyi QU ; Ru SONG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(10):1926-1937
AIM:To investigate the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of long noncoding RNA LINC01615 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)cells.METHODS:Transcriptome sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)databases were used to analyze the expres-sion level of LINC01615 in HNSCC cells and its correlation with patient survival.RT-qPCR was used to detect the expres-sion levels of LINC01615 in HNSCC and normal control cells.An siRNA-mediated LINC01615 knockdown HNSCC cell model was established,and high-content screening cell counting,ATP and CCK8 assays were performed to analyze cell proliferation.Transwell assays were conducted to assess cell migration and invasion.Bioinformatics analysis was em-ployed to predict potential target genes of LINC01615 and the biological processes and signaling pathways involved.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to validate the regulatory effect of LINC01615 on the candidate target gene TEAD2.Transcriptome data from TCGA and GEO databases were analyzed to determine the expression pattern of TEAD2 in HN-SCC.Functional cell experiments were performed to investigate the impact of TEAD2 knockdown on HNSCC proliferation,migration,and invasion.Rescue experiments were conducted to examine whether LINC01615 influenced the malignant phenotypes(proliferation,migration,and invasion)of HNSCC cells by regulating TEAD2 expression.RESULTS:The expression levels of LINC01615 were significantly higher in HNSCC tissues and cells than those in normal control tissues and cells,respectively(P<0.01).Knockdown of LINC01615 significantly inhibited HNSCC proliferation,migration,and invasion(P<0.01).Bioinformatics analysis identified 134 candidate target genes of LINC01615,which were primarily en-riched in tumor-related biological processes and signaling pathways,including angiogenesis,regulation of endothelial cell proliferation,regulation of cell migration,HPV infection,Hippo signaling pathway,and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.Knockdown of LINC01615 led to a significant decrease in TEAD2 expression in HNSCC cells(P<0.01).Functional cell studies demonstrated that TEAD2 knockdown suppressed HNSCC proliferation,migration,and invasion,whereas TEAD2 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effects of LINC01615 knockdown on these malignant phenotypes.CONCLUSION:LINC01615 is upregulated in HNSCC tissues and cells,functioning as an oncogene.Mechanistic studies reveal that LINC01615 promotes HNSCC proliferation,migration,and invasion by upregulating TEAD2,a key transcription factor in the Hippo signaling pathway.These findings may provide a novel potential biomarker for the clinical diagnosis and treat-ment of HNSCC.
4.Diagnostic value of plasma heparin-binding protein in the bloodstream infection of tumor patients
Chenyun QU ; Ning DING ; Aner LUO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science 2025;43(10):737-741
Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of plasma heparin-binding protein(HBP)in the bloodstream infection of tumor patients.Methods The tumor patients treated at Ruijin Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from Janu-ary 2023 to December 2023 were selected and further divided into the following three groups:124 patients with positive blood cultures(bloodstream infection group),95 with negative blood cultures but positive cultures from other body fluids(culture-positive group),and 100 with negative bacterial cultures(culture-negative group).The levels of HBP,procalcitonin(PCT),C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin 6(IL-6),white blood cell(WBC),and neutrophil(NE)in the three groups were detected.The level differences of each indicator among three groups were compared.The differences in the expression levels of HBP in the bloodstream infection group with different pathogens such as Gram-negative bacteria,Gram-positive bacteria,and fungi were also compared.The Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of each indicator for the risk of bloodstream infection.The receiver operating char-acteristics(ROC)curve was used to assess the diagnostic value of each indicator alone and in combination for the bloodstream infection of tumor patients.Results The expression level of HBP in the bloodstream infection group(32.14[14.01,110.40]ng/mL)was sig-nificantly higher than that in the culture-positive group(23.00[5.90,54.87]ng/mL,t=5.39,P<0.05),and both of them were sig-nificantly higher than that in the culture-negative group(6.80[5.90,16.05]ng/mL,Z=47.248,P<0.05).HBP had a certain clini-cal predictive value for the occurrence of bloodstream infection in tumor patients(OR=1.017,95%CI:1.008~1.027,P<0.001).In addition,the levels of HBP in the Gram-negative bacterial infection group(78.04[21.60,157.20]ng/mL)were significantly higher than that in the Gram-positive bacterial infection group(51.00[18.45,106.50]ng/mL,t=2.01,P<0.05),and both of them were significantly higher than that in the fungal infection group(5.90[5.90,14.17]ng/mL,Z=3.40,P<0.05).The area under the ROC curve(AUCROC),sensitivity,and specificity of HBP for the diagnosis of bloodstream infection in tumor patients were 0.717,67.37%,and 67.26%,respectively,which were superior to those of PCT(0.700,77.17%,and 52.14%),CRP(0.667,63.16%,and 62.39%),and IL-6(0.629,60.47%,and 60.47%).The AUCROC,sensitivity,and specificity of the combination of HBP,CRP,PCT,and IL-6 were 0.739,70.24%,and 68.42%,respectively,which were better than those of each indicator alone.Conclusion The detection of HBP has high clinical application value in the diagnosis of bloodstream infections of tumor patients and may serve as a potential biomarker for the bloodstream infection of tumor patients.
5.Long noncoding RNA LINC01615 promotes malignant phenotypes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells by up-regulating TEAD2 expres-sion
Bo WU ; Penghui ZHANG ; Ning GAO ; Huimin ZHANG ; Keyao XING ; Moyi QU ; Ru SONG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(10):1926-1937
AIM:To investigate the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of long noncoding RNA LINC01615 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)cells.METHODS:Transcriptome sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)databases were used to analyze the expres-sion level of LINC01615 in HNSCC cells and its correlation with patient survival.RT-qPCR was used to detect the expres-sion levels of LINC01615 in HNSCC and normal control cells.An siRNA-mediated LINC01615 knockdown HNSCC cell model was established,and high-content screening cell counting,ATP and CCK8 assays were performed to analyze cell proliferation.Transwell assays were conducted to assess cell migration and invasion.Bioinformatics analysis was em-ployed to predict potential target genes of LINC01615 and the biological processes and signaling pathways involved.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to validate the regulatory effect of LINC01615 on the candidate target gene TEAD2.Transcriptome data from TCGA and GEO databases were analyzed to determine the expression pattern of TEAD2 in HN-SCC.Functional cell experiments were performed to investigate the impact of TEAD2 knockdown on HNSCC proliferation,migration,and invasion.Rescue experiments were conducted to examine whether LINC01615 influenced the malignant phenotypes(proliferation,migration,and invasion)of HNSCC cells by regulating TEAD2 expression.RESULTS:The expression levels of LINC01615 were significantly higher in HNSCC tissues and cells than those in normal control tissues and cells,respectively(P<0.01).Knockdown of LINC01615 significantly inhibited HNSCC proliferation,migration,and invasion(P<0.01).Bioinformatics analysis identified 134 candidate target genes of LINC01615,which were primarily en-riched in tumor-related biological processes and signaling pathways,including angiogenesis,regulation of endothelial cell proliferation,regulation of cell migration,HPV infection,Hippo signaling pathway,and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.Knockdown of LINC01615 led to a significant decrease in TEAD2 expression in HNSCC cells(P<0.01).Functional cell studies demonstrated that TEAD2 knockdown suppressed HNSCC proliferation,migration,and invasion,whereas TEAD2 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effects of LINC01615 knockdown on these malignant phenotypes.CONCLUSION:LINC01615 is upregulated in HNSCC tissues and cells,functioning as an oncogene.Mechanistic studies reveal that LINC01615 promotes HNSCC proliferation,migration,and invasion by upregulating TEAD2,a key transcription factor in the Hippo signaling pathway.These findings may provide a novel potential biomarker for the clinical diagnosis and treat-ment of HNSCC.
6.Effect of PSMA gene expression on the biological behavior of prostate cancer cells and its mechanism
Ru-meng WANG ; Ning ZHANG ; Yang LIU ; Chao WANG ; Jia-qi JIA ; Wen-hao QU ; Li-zhou JIA
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(11):943-949
Objective To explore the effect of PSMA gene on the biological behavior of prostate cancer cells and its molecular mechanism.Methods The expression of PSMA in prostate cancer and its relationship with prognosis were analyzed based on the GEPIA database.The mRNA and protein expression levels of PSMA in normal prostate epithelial cell RWPE-2 and prostate cancer cells DU145 and PC-3 were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot,respectively.DU145 cells were used to construct knockdown cell lines,which were transfected with PSMA lentiviral knockdown plasmid and its negative control,serving as the sh PSMA group and the sh NC group,respectively;PC-3 cells were used to construct overexpression cell lines,which were transfected with PSMA lentiviral overexpression plasmid and its negative control,serving as the OE PSMA group and the OE NC group.CCK-8 assay and clone formation assay were used to detect the cell proliferation ability,wound healing assay and Transwell assay were used to detect the cell migration and invasion abilities,flow cytometry was used to detect the cell apoptosis,and Western blot was used to detect the expression of PI3K,Akt,BAX and Bcl-2 proteins.Prostate cancer cells of DU145 cell line were inoculated into the left armpit of BALB/c nude mice to form tumors,the tumor size was observed,and the tumor weight was measured;HE staining was used to evaluate the degree of damage;and the expression of PSMA was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results GEPIA database analysis showed that PSMA gene was highly expressed in prostate cancer and was related to the prognosis of prostate cancer.The results of RT-qPCR and Western blot showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of PSMA in PC-3 and DU145 cells were higher than those in RWPE-2 cell(P<0.01).Compared with the sh NC group,the sh PSMA group showed decreased cell proliferation,migration and invasion abilities(P<0.05),and increased cell apoptosis rate(P<0.05).Compared with the OE NC group,the OE PSMA group demonstrated increased cell proliferation,migration and invasion abilities(P<0.05),and decreased apoptosis rate(P<0.05).Compared with the sh NC group,the protein expression of PI3K,Akt and Bcl-2 in the sh PSMA group decreased(P<0.05),and the protein expression of BAX increased(P<0.05).Compared with the OE NC group,the protein expression of PI3K,Akt and Bcl-2 in the OE PSMA group increased(P<0.05),and the protein expression of BAX decreased(P<0.05).Results of subcutaneous transplantation of prostate cancer in nude mice showed that the tumor weight of nude mice decreased(P<0.05),tumor cells exhibited irregular shapes,nuclei were deeply stained,and PSMA expression was weakly positive,after knocking down the PSMA.Conclusion PSMA gene may participate in regulating the proliferation,invasion,migration,and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
7.Study on the effect of high-fidelity intelligent simulator combined with scenario simulation in emergency response training of radiology department
Zhengting ZHU ; Yuping ZHENG ; Manli CHENG ; Yang LIU ; Xueqiu YAN ; Li REN ; Haibo QU ; Huayan XU ; Yun WANG ; Gang NING
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(9):1158-1163
Objective:To explore the application effect of high-fidelity intelligent simulator combined with scenario simulation for emergency response training in the Department of Radiology, and to improve the emergency preparedness of medical, nursing, and technical staff in managing contrast agent adverse reactions.Methods:From January to July 2024, 132 medical, nursing, and technical staff from the Department of Radiology of a tertiary hospital in Chengdu City, China were selected as the training subjects. The high-fidelity intelligent simulator combined with scenario simulation teaching mode was used to conduct emergency response training for the participants. The differences in theoretical knowledge and post competence regarding contrast agent adverse reactions among the staff were compared before and after the training. A self-made questionnaire was used to investigate their needs and satisfaction of the emergency response training. SPSS 26.0 was used for data analysis. The differences in theoretical knowledge and post competence scores before and after training were compared using the paired samples t test. Results:After the training, the average score of theoretical knowledge examination increased from (84.32±10.19) points to (90.34±7.87) points, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). After the training, the scores of knowledge reserve, operational skills, situational decision-making ability, professional literacy, comprehensive literacy, and overall post competency were all significantly higher than those before the training ( P<0.05). The satisfaction score of emergency response training was (4.17±0.25) points. Conclusions:High-fidelity intelligent simulator combined with scenario simulation training improved the emergency preparedness and teamwork of radiology staff in clinical emergencies. The training received high recognition and satisfaction from the participants, which is of great significance for clinical emergency response and patient safety.
8.Distribution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in PM2.5 in a southern city in 2019
Yaxin QU ; Suli HUANG ; Chao WANG ; Jie JIANG ; Jiajia JI ; Daokui FANG ; Shaohua XIE ; Xiaoheng LI ; Ning LIU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(2):196-204
Background Metals and metalloids in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may cause damage to the respiratory and circulatory systems of the human body, and long-term exposure is prone to causing chronic poisoning, cancer, and other adverse effects. Objective To assess the distribution characteristics of metals and metalloids in outdoor PM2.5 in a southern city of China, conduct source apportionment, and evaluate the associated health risks, thereby providing theoretical support for further pollution control measures. Methods PM2.5 samples were collected in districts A, B, and C of a southern China city, and the concentrations of 17 metals and metalloids were detected by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Pollution sources were assessed through enrichment factor and principal components analysis, and the main pollution sources were quantified using absolute principal component scores-multivariate linear regression (APCS-MLR). Health risks were evaluated based on the Technical guide for environmental health risk assessment of chemical exposure (WS/T777—2021). Results The ambient air PM2.5 concentrations in the city were higher in winter and spring, and lower in summer and autumn. The annual average concentrations of ambient PM2.5 in districts A, B, and C were 36.7, 31.9, and 24.4 μg·m−3, respectively. The ambient PM2.5 levels in districts B and C were below the second-grade limit set by the Ambient air quality standards (GB 3095—2012). The enrichment factors of cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), and antimony (Sb) were greater than 10, those of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), and molybdenum (Mo) fell between 1 and 10, and those of manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), and uranium (U) were below or equal to 1. The comprehensive evaluation of source analysis showed that the main pollution sources in districts A and C and the whole city were coal-burning. In district B, the main pollution source was also coal combustion, followed by industrial process sources and dust sources. The carcinogenic risks of As and Cr were between 1×10−6 and 1×10−4. However, the hazard quotients for 15 metals and metalloids in terms of non-carcinogenic risk were below 1. Conclusion Cr and As in the atmospheric PM2.5 of the city present a certain risk of cancer and should be paid attention to. In addition, preventive control measures should be taken against relevant pollution sources such as industrial emission, dust, and coal burning.
9.Predicting Postoperative Progression of Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Cervical Spine Using Interpretable Radiomics Models
Siyuan QIN ; Ruomu QU ; Ke LIU ; Ruixin YAN ; Weili ZHAO ; Jun XU ; Enlong ZHANG ; Feifei ZHOU ; Ning LANG
Neurospine 2025;22(1):144-156
Objective:
This study investigates the potential of radiomics to predict postoperative progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) after posterior cervical spine surgery.
Methods:
This retrospective study included 473 patients diagnosed with OPLL at Peking University Third Hospital between October 2006 and September 2022. Patients underwent posterior spinal surgery and had at least 2 computed tomography (CT) examinations spaced at least 1 year apart. OPLL progression was defined as an annual growth rate exceeding 7.5%. Radiomic features were extracted from preoperative CT images of the OPLL lesions, followed by feature selection using correlation coefficient analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis. Univariable analysis identified significant clinical variables for constructing the clinical model. Logistic regression models, including the Rad-score model, clinical model, and combined model, were developed to predict OPLL progression.
Results:
Of the 473 patients, 191 (40.4%) experienced OPLL progression. On the testing set, the combined model, which incorporated the Rad-score and clinical variables (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.751), outperformed both the radiomics-only model (AUC = 0.693) and the clinical model (AUC = 0.620). Calibration curves demonstrated good agreement between predicted probabilities and observed outcomes, and decision curve analysis confirmed the clinical utility of the combined model. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis indicated that the Rad-score and age were key contributors to the model’s predictions, enhancing clinical interpretability.
Conclusion
Radiomics, combined with clinical variables, provides a valuable predictive tool for assessing the risk of postoperative progression in cervical OPLL, supporting more personalized treatment strategies. Prospective, multicenter validation is needed to confirm the utility of the model in broader clinical settings.
10.Exploring mechanism of Porana racemosa Roxb. in treating rheumatoid arthritis based on integration of network pharmacology and molecular docking combined with experimental validation
Chen-yu YE ; Ning LI ; Yin-zi CHEN ; Tong QU ; Jing HU ; Zhi-yong CHEN ; Hui REN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):117-129
Through network pharmacology and molecular docking technology, combined with

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