OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of chronic disseminated candidiasis (CDC) in children with acute leukemia (AL) following chemotherapy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on children diagnosed with CDC (including confirmed, clinically diagnosed, and suspected cases) after AL chemotherapy from January 2015 to December 2023 at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital, and Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University. Clinical characteristics and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of CDC in children with AL following chemotherapy was 1.92% (32/1 668). Among the children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the incidence of CDC in the high-risk group was significantly higher than in the low-risk group (P=0.002). All patients presented with fever unresponsive to antibiotics during the neutropenic period, with 81% (26/32) involving the liver. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly elevated (≥50 mg/L) in 97% (31/32) of the patients. The efficacy of combined therapy with liposomal amphotericin B and caspofungin or posaconazole for CDC was 66% (19/29), higher than with caspofungin (9%, 2/22) or liposomal amphotericin B (18%, 2/11) monotherapy. The overall cure rate was 72% (23/32). The proportion of patients with CRP ≥50 mg/L and/or a positive β-D-glucan test for more than 2 weeks and breakthrough infections during caspofungin treatment was significantly higher in the treatment failure group compared to the successful treatment group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS CDC in children with AL after chemotherapy may be associated with prolonged neutropenia due to intensive chemotherapy. Combination antifungal regimens based on liposomal amphotericin B have a higher cure rate, while persistently high CRP levels and positive β-D-glucan tests may indicate poor prognosis.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use* ; Candidiasis/diagnosis* ; Chronic Disease ; Leukemia/complications* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/complications* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Traditional development of small protein scaffolds has relied on display technologies and mutation-based engineering, which limit sequence and functional diversity, thereby constraining their therapeutic and application potential. Protein design tools have significantly advanced the creation of novel protein sequences, structures, and functions. However, further improvements in design strategies are still needed to more efficiently optimize the functional performance of protein-based drugs and enhance their druggability. Here, we extended an evolution-based design protocol to create a novel minibinder, BindHer, against the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It not only exhibits super stability and binding selectivity but also demonstrates remarkable properties in tissue specificity. Radiolabeling experiments with ^99mTc, ⁶⁸Ga, and ¹⁸F revealed that BindHer efficiently targets tumors in HER2-positive breast cancer mouse models, with minimal nonspecific liver absorption, outperforming scaffolds designed through traditional engineering. These findings highlight a new rational approach to automated protein design, offering significant potential for large-scale applications in therapeutic mini-protein development.

The medulla oblongata,situated at the caudal portion of the brainstem,serves as a critical regulatory center responsible for maintaining fundamental vital functions including respiratory and cardiovascular homeostasis.As a pivotal hub within the autonomic nervous system,it orchestrates the coordinated control of afferent and efferent neural pathways.Dysfunction of this region may precipitate life-threatening cardiorespiratory arrest,associated with substantial mortality rates.This case report presents a patient who developed acute extensive anterior myocardial infarction during treatment with dual antiplatelet therapy and moderate-intensity statins following acute medullary infarction.It is hypothesized that the pathogenesis may involve the acceleration of plaque erosion by the stroke-heart syndrome.This clinical case provides valuable insights into the complex neurocardiac interplay,particularly highlighting the imperative for enhanced recognition of brain-heart axis interactions in cerebrovascular pathology.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate precise assessment methods for predicting the optimal acetabular cup size in total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: A clinical data of 73 patients (80 hips) who underwent primary THA between December 2022 and July 2024 and met the inclusion criteria was analyzed. There were 39 males and 34 females with an average age of 66.3 years (range, 56-78 years). Among them, 66 cases were unilateral THA and 7 were bilateral THAs. There were 29 patients (34 hips) of osteoarthritis, 35 patients (35 hips) of femoral neck fractures, and 9 patients (11 hips) of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Based on anteroposterior pelvic X-ray films, three methods were employed to predict acetabular cup size, including preoperative template planning, radiographic femoral head diameter (FHD) measurement, and intraoperative FHD measurement. The predicted acetabular cup sizes from these methods were compared with the actual implanted sizes. RESULTS: The predicted acetabular cup sizes using the preoperative template planning, radiographic FHD measurement, and intraoperative FHD measurement were (51.25±2.81), (49.72±3.11), and (49.90±2.74) mm, respectively, compared to the actual implanted cup size of (50.57±2.74) mm, with no significant difference ( P>0.05). Regarding agreement with the actual implanted cup size, the preoperative template planning achieved exact matches in 35 hips (43.75%), one-size deviation in 41 hips (51.25%), and two-size deviations in 4 hips (5%); the radiographic FHD measurement achieved exact matches in 12 hips (15%), one-size deviation in 57 hips (71.25%), and two-size deviations in 11 hips (13.75%); and the intraoperative FHD measurement achieved exact matches in 26 hips (32.5%), one-size deviation in 52 hips (65%), and two-size deviations in 2 hips (2.5%). There were significant differences in agreement distributions between the three methods and the actual implanted cup sizes ( H=18.579, P<0.001). CONCLUSION The intraoperative FHD measurement, as a simple, cost-effective, and accurate method, effectively guides acetabular cup selection, reduces the risk of prosthesis wear, enhances postoperative joint stability.
Humans ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/instrumentation* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Acetabulum/diagnostic imaging* ; Aged ; Hip Prosthesis ; Prosthesis Design ; Femur Head/surgery* ; Osteoarthritis, Hip/surgery* ; Radiography ; Femoral Neck Fractures/surgery* ; Femur Head Necrosis/surgery*

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

The medulla oblongata,situated at the caudal portion of the brainstem,serves as a critical regulatory center responsible for maintaining fundamental vital functions including respiratory and cardiovascular homeostasis.As a pivotal hub within the autonomic nervous system,it orchestrates the coordinated control of afferent and efferent neural pathways.Dysfunction of this region may precipitate life-threatening cardiorespiratory arrest,associated with substantial mortality rates.This case report presents a patient who developed acute extensive anterior myocardial infarction during treatment with dual antiplatelet therapy and moderate-intensity statins following acute medullary infarction.It is hypothesized that the pathogenesis may involve the acceleration of plaque erosion by the stroke-heart syndrome.This clinical case provides valuable insights into the complex neurocardiac interplay,particularly highlighting the imperative for enhanced recognition of brain-heart axis interactions in cerebrovascular pathology.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between three-dimensional (3D) true acetabular cup coverage and two-dimensional (2D) X-ray acetabular cup coverage in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and identify effective parameters for evaluating acetabular cup coverage.Methods:Sixteen pelvic models were 3D-printed from CT reconstruction data of healthy adult pelvises. Postoperative acetabular models were prepared using standard THA procedures. The postoperative models were centered on the acetabulum and positioned under a C-arm fluoroscope. Fluoroscopy was conducted by rotating the C-arm at different angles (15°, 30°, and 45°) to obtain anteroposterior (AP) and iliac oblique X-ray images of the hip joint. The 2D acetabular coverage at different fluoroscopic angles (AP, 15° iliac oblique, 30° iliac oblique, and 45° iliac oblique) was recorded and compared with the 3D acetabular coverage measured from the pelvic models. Two independent observers assessed related parameters (coverage, abduction angle, anteversion angle) from the 2D X-ray images, and inter-observer reliability was statistically analyzed. Differences between 2D and 3D acetabular coverage were compared, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess correlations between acetabular anteversion angle, abduction angle, and both 2D and 3D acetabular coverage.Results:The acetabular coverage for the 2D X-ray groups (AP, 15° iliac oblique, 30° iliac oblique, and 45° iliac oblique) was 87.37%±2.59%, 87.01%±2.53%, 85.39%±2.57%, and 83.20%±2.51%, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( F=6.700, P=0.001). The 45° iliac oblique group had significantly lower coverage than both the 30° iliac oblique group and the AP group, while the 30° iliac oblique group showed significantly lower coverage than the 15° iliac oblique group (all differences, P<0.05). The mean abduction and anteversion angles were 45.33°±2.22° and 14.61°±2.53°, respectively. The 3D acetabular coverage was 85.66%±2.51%. The 45° iliac oblique group had significantly lower coverage than the 3D coverage group ( P<0.05), whereas no significant difference was observed between the AP group and the 3D coverage group ( t=1.893, P=0.062). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed significant negative correlations between the acetabular abduction angle, anteversion angle, and both 2D and 3D acetabular coverage, with the following regression equations: 2D coverage=124.627-0.700× (abduction angle) -0.379× (anteversion angle) ( R2=0.814, P=0.001); 3D coverage=120.291-0.603× (abduction angle) -0.499× (anteversion angle) ( R2=0.917, P<0.001). Conclusion:Acetabular cup coverage rates vary with different X-ray projection angles, with the anteroposterior X-ray view potentially overestimating coverage. Changes in the abduction angle appear to significantly impact the differences between 2D and 3D coverage, thereby increasing errors in assessing true acetabular cup coverage. These discrepancies between 2D and 3D coverage should be carefully considered when evaluating minimal acetabular cup coverage.

The gallium-based liquid metals were introduced in terms of the advantages when applied in medical field,application status in medical imaging,drug delivery,antibiosis and tumor therapy and cutting-edge application in flexible e-skin,wearable sensor and flexible medical device.The deficiencies of the gallium-based liquid metals in durability,potential toxicity,high cost of preparation and difficulty of process control were analyzed when applied in medical fields.The future development directions of the gallium-based liquid metals were pointed out.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(11):97-102]