OBJECTIVE To construct a prediction model for tacrolimus trough concentration based on population pharmacokinetics （PPK） information and machine learning， evaluate its predictive performance in clinical therapeutic drug monitoring （TDM） data， and provide evidence-based support for individualized dose adjustment of tacrolimus after renal transplantation. METHODS A retrospective cohort study design was adopted， and consecutive TDM records of kidney transplant recipients treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China （Anhui Provincial Hospital） from January to June 2025 were included to construct the final analysis set. Based on 29 input variables including previous TDM concentration， previous concentration/dose （ C / D ） ratio， and individual predicted exposure （IPRE）， 13 commonly used regression algorithm models and 1 weighted ensemble model were systematically compared. The dataset was split into training set and test set in an 80∶20 ratio by patient. Five-fold cross-validation based on patient grouping was performed on the training set， and the model performance was evaluated on the obtained evaluation points using the coefficient of determination （ R 2 ）， mean absolute error （MAE）， root mean square error （RMSE）， Pearson correlation coefficient （Corr） and ±20%/±30% accuracy. The SHapley Additive exPlanations （SHAP） method was used for model interpretability analysis to identify core predictive features. RESULTS A total of 809 consecutive TDM records from 83 kidney transplant recipients were included， with 66 cases in the training set and 17 cases in the test set. The SVR model showed the best performance， with R 2 of 0.649 8， MAE of 1.126 0 ng/mL， RMSE of 1.478 6 ng/mL， Corr of 0.819 1， ±20% accuracy of 59.68%， and ±30% accuracy of 79.03%. The Weighted Ensemble model and Extra Trees model ranked second and third， respectively. SHAP interpretability analysis showed that the top 6 features contributing to the prediction were IPRE， previous TDM concentration， previous C/D ratio， dose-normalized concentration， hematocrit （HCT）， and concentration-dose coefficient （ θ cd ）， among which IPRE was the core predictive feature （SHAP mean value 0.915 4）. CONCLUSIONS The machine learning model incorporating PPK information demonstrates good predictive ability for tacrolimus concentration in the current TDM cohort. SVR is the optimal model， IPRE is the core predictive feature of the model， and a few core PK-derived features （IPRE， dose-normalized concentration， θ cd ） together with clinical features （previous TDM concentration， HCT， etc.） constitute the main information sources for model prediction.

Objective To investigate the differences in acute mountain sickness between individuals en-tering the plateau for the first time and those with multiple plateau experiences,and to examine the impact on psychological stress.Methods A total of 2 337 young plateau-acclimatized individuals from an acclimatization rotation area during November 2023 to January 2024 were selected as the study subjects.Those entering the plateau for the first time were classified into Group A(n=425),while those with previous plateau experience(at least one prior visit)were classified into Group B(n=1 912).Differences were analyzed between the two groups in terms of general characteristics,as well as acute mountain sickness(AMS)scores,Self-Rating De-pression Scale(SDS)scores,Symptom Checklist-90(SCL-90)scores,and various vital signs at the following time points:before entering the plateau(T0),on the 1st day(T1),4th day(T2),7th day(T3),and 10th day(T4)after entering the plateau.Results Group A was younger than Group B,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).At T1,T2,and T3,AMS scores in Group A were significantly higher than those in Group B(P<0.05).At T4,there was no statistically significant difference in AMS scores between the two groups(P>0.05).At T1,T2,and T3,blood oxygen saturation was lower and heart rate higher in Group A than in Group B,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).After high-altitude acclimatization,no statistically significant differences in blood oxygen saturation or heart rate were observed between the groups at T4(P>0.05).At T1,there were no statistically significant differences in systolic or diastolic blood pres-sure between the groups(P>0.05).At T2,both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in Group A than in Group B(P<0.05).At T3 and T4,after high-altitude acclimatization,systolic blood pressure de-creased in both groups but remained higher in Group A than in Group B(P<0.05).On the SDS scale,men-tal-emotional and somatic symptom scores were significantly higher in Group A than in Group B(P<0.001).On the SCL-90,all nine symptom factor scores were higher in Group A than in Group B(P<0.05).Conclusion Indi-viduals entering high-altitude areas for the first time experience more severe acute mountain sickness and more pronounced psychological stress.Therefore,enhanced monitoring,psychological counseling,and tailored pre-vention and treatment strategies should be implemented.

Objective To analyze the correlation between lipid metabolism indexes,serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidyase(γ-GGT)and coronary heart disease(CHD)complicated with coronary artery calcification(CAC).Methods A total of 300 CHD patients admitted in this study were divided into the CAC group(n=193)and the non-CAC group(n=107).Clinical data of the two groups were compared,including high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),Apolipoprotein A1(Apo-A1),Apo-B(APO-B)and γ-GGT.The influencing factors of CAC were analyzed by multiple Logistic factors.And a nomogram prediction model was established.Results The basic data of the two groups were compared.Patients of the CAC group was older,had higher proportion of patients with hypertension and diabetes,had higher levels of LDL-C,TC,Apo-B and γ-GGT and lower level of Apo-A1 than those of the non-CAC group(P＜0.05).The results of Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that advanced age,combined history of diabetes,elevated LDL-C,TC,Apo-B and γ-GGT were risk factors of CHD complicated with CAC,while elevated Apo-A1 was the protective factor of CHD complicated with CAC(P＜0.05).The AUC of the constructed nomogram model was 0.880(95%CI:0.840-0.919),which showed good distinguishing ability.Conclusion CHD complicated with CAC is related to lipid metabolism and γ-GGT level.The nomogram model constructed based on influencing factors can be used for clinical early warning of CAC risk.

Objective To analyze the correlation between lipid metabolism indexes,serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidyase(γ-GGT)and coronary heart disease(CHD)complicated with coronary artery calcification(CAC).Methods A total of 300 CHD patients admitted in this study were divided into the CAC group(n=193)and the non-CAC group(n=107).Clinical data of the two groups were compared,including high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),Apolipoprotein A1(Apo-A1),Apo-B(APO-B)and γ-GGT.The influencing factors of CAC were analyzed by multiple Logistic factors.And a nomogram prediction model was established.Results The basic data of the two groups were compared.Patients of the CAC group was older,had higher proportion of patients with hypertension and diabetes,had higher levels of LDL-C,TC,Apo-B and γ-GGT and lower level of Apo-A1 than those of the non-CAC group(P＜0.05).The results of Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that advanced age,combined history of diabetes,elevated LDL-C,TC,Apo-B and γ-GGT were risk factors of CHD complicated with CAC,while elevated Apo-A1 was the protective factor of CHD complicated with CAC(P＜0.05).The AUC of the constructed nomogram model was 0.880(95%CI:0.840-0.919),which showed good distinguishing ability.Conclusion CHD complicated with CAC is related to lipid metabolism and γ-GGT level.The nomogram model constructed based on influencing factors can be used for clinical early warning of CAC risk.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics and key points of diagnosis and treatment in children with TCF3::HLF fusion gene-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Methods:A case series study was conducted. Clinical data of 8 children diagnosed with TCF3::HLF positive ALL at the Hematology Center of Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University and the Hematology Oncology Department of Henan Children′s Hospital between January 2019 and January 2024 were collected. Descriptive analysis was performed on their clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment regimens and prognosis.Results:The cohort included 8 children (3 males and 5 females) with the age of 5.5 (3.5, 7.0) years. Bone pain was the primary clinical manifestation in 4 cases, with multi-site skeletal involvement in 4 cases, hypercalcemia in 5 cases, and coagulation abnormalities in 6 cases. Immunophenotyping revealed common B-cell lineage with myeloid markers in 7 cases and common B-cell phenotype in 1 case. All 8 children were positive for the TCF3::HLF fusion gene. Regarding treatment, 1 case abandoned therapy after diagnosis, while the remaining 7 cases received chemotherapy following the Chinese Children′s Leukemia Group-ALL2018 high-risk protocol. Only 1 case achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity by day 33 of induction therapy. Among the 3 cases with MRD negativity before consolidation therapy, 1 case achieved it via conventional chemotherapy, while 2 cases required additional agents (venetoclax or blinatumomab). One case failed to achieve MRD negativity after consolidation therapy and later discontinued treatment (survival periods: 7months).Of the 4 cases who achieved MRD negativity after consolidation, 2 cases received conventional chemotherapy and 2 cases achieved negativity following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CART). All 4 cases underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Two cases in the CART combined with HSCT group survived as of the last follow-up (survival periods: 22 and 13 months). In the conventional chemotherapy combined HSCT group, 1 case relapsed and died (survival: 38 months), and 1 case died from transplant complications (survival: 11 months). The other 2 cases achieved MRD negativity before consolidation therapy but did not receive regular subsequent chemotherapy. After MRD recurrence, they underwent CART therapy without HSCT and remained alive at the last follow-up (survival periods: 49 and 12 months).Conclusions:Children with TCF3::HLF positive ALL often present with bone destruction accompanied by hypercalcemia and coagulopathy at initial diagnosis. This subtype of ALL shows poor response to conventional chemotherapy regimens, characterized by low early remission rates and high relapse risk even after HSCT. Better therapeutic outcomes have been observed with small molecule targeted drugs, immunotherapy and CART therapy.

BACKGROUND:Acellular cartilage extracellular matrix is effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis,but its efficacy is limited when applied alone.Oxymatrine alleviates interleukin-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of different doses of oxymatrine combined with acellular cartilage extracellular matrix injection in knee cavity on osteoarthritis in rats.METHODS:The femoral cartilage of SD rats was obtained.The acellular cartilage extracellular matrix was prepared by physical,chemical and enzyme methods.Fifty SD rats were selected and divided into sham operation group,osteoarthritis group,simple material group,low-dose drug group,and high-dose drug group by random number table method,with 10 rats in each group.The latter four groups were treated with modified Hulth method to establish the rat model of osteoarthritis.After successful modeling,acellular cartilage extracellular matrix homogenate was injected into the knee cavity of rats in the simple material group.Acellular cartilage extracellular matrix homogenate containing 50,100 μg oxymatrine was injected into the knee cavity of rats in the low-dose drug group and the high-dose drug group,respectively.Samples were taken 4 weeks after injection for relevant detection.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Compared with the sham operation group,the concentrations of interleukin 1β,tumor necrosis factor ɑ,and malondialdehyde in the joint effusion were increased (P<0.05),and the concentration of superoxide dismutase in the joint effusion was decreased (P<0.05) in the osteoarthritis group.Compared with osteoarthritis group,the levels of interleukin 1β,tumor necrosis factor ɑ,and malondialdehyde in joint effusion were decreased (P<0.05),while the level of superoxide dismutase was increased (P<0.05) in the low-dose drug group and high-dose drug group,and the changes were more significant in high-dose drug group.(2) TUNEL staining showed that compared with sham operation group,apoptotic chondrocytes increased in osteoarthritis group.Compared with the osteoarthritis group,the apoptotic chondrocytes decreased in the simple material group,the low-dose drug group,and the high-dose drug group,and the decrease was more significant in the high-dose drug group.(3) Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining showed that the knee cartilage was seriously degraded,the expression of type Ⅱ collagen was decreased (P<0.05),and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 was increased (P<0.05) in the osteoarthritis group.Compared with the osteoarthritis group,the knee cartilage degeneration of rats in the simple material group,the low-dose drug group,and the high-dose drug group was significantly improved;the expression of type Ⅱ collagen was increased (P<0.05) and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 was decreased (P<0.05),and the improvement was most significant in the high-dose drug group.(4) Western blot assay showed that compared with sham operation group,the expression of Nrf2,HO-1,and Bcl-2 protein in cartilage tissue decreased (P<0.05);expression levels of Cleaved-caspase-3,Cleaved-caspase-9,and Bax were increased (P<0.05) in the osteoarthritis group.Compared with the osteoarthritis group,the protein expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1,and Bcl-2 were increased (P<0.05),and the protein expressions of Cleaved-caspase-3,Cleaved-caspase-9,and Bax were decreased (P<0.05) in the low-dose and high-dose drug groups.The improvement was more significant in the high-dose drug group.(5) In conclusion,intracavicular injection of acellular cartilage extracellular matrix and oxymatrine can promote the synthesis of extracellular matrix,inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress,and suppress chondrocyte apoptosis,and play a therapeutic role in osteoarthritis,which may be related to the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of ultrasonic shear wave elastography (SWE) parameters and pathological characteristics on the status of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which is difficult to be determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in breast cancer, and to construct a nomogram model.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted. One hundred and fifteen cases of breast cancer diagnosed and treated in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from September 2018 to April 2022 were selected, and their HER2 was evaluated as IHC 2+; the HER2 expression status was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) detection, including 23 HER2 positive cases and 92 HER2 negative cases. The ultrasound SWE parameters [including maximum shear wave velocity (V max), mean shear wave velocity (V mean), median shear wave velocity (V median), minimum shear wave velocity (V min)] and clinicopathological characteristics between HER2 positive and negative groups were compared. The variables with statistically significant differences ( P < 0.05) between groups were included in a multivariate logistic regression model, the independent risk factors for HER2 positivity were screened, and a nomogram model was constructed based on these independent risk factors. With the FISH test results as the gold standard, the efficacy of nomogram in judging HER2 positivity in breast cancer which was difficult to be identified by IHC was evaluated with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve; the accuracy and clinical net benefit of the nomogram model were evaluated using calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA), respectively. Results:The patients were all female, aged (56±13) years, ranging from 30 to 88 years old. V max [ M ( Q1, Q3)] [8.54 (7.38, 9.47) m/s vs. 6.46 (5.07, 8.42) m/s], V mean [(5.41±0.78) m/s vs. (4.53±1.22) m/s], V median [5.06 (4.48, 5.52) m/s vs. 4.35 (3.42, 4.96) m/s], V min [3.35 (2.68, 3.88) m/s vs. 2.59 (2.11, 3.34) m/s], the proportion of patients with axillary lymph node metastasis [56.5% (13/23) vs. 22.8% (21/92)], and the Ki-67 positivity index [35% (30%, 55%) vs. 25% (15%, 35%)] in the HER2 positive group were higher than those in the HER2 negative group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05); There was no statistically significant difference in age, lesion location, pathological type, vascular invasion, nerve invasion and long diameter, short diameter, echo, regular shape, clear boundary, posterior echo, calcification, blood flow grading, Breast Imaging Report and Data System (BI-RADS) classification detected by ultrasound between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased ultrasound V max ( OR = 1.786, 95% CI: 1.283-2.485, P = 0.001) and axillary lymph node metastasis ( OR = 4.185, 95% CI: 1.327-13.197, P = 0.015) and elevated Ki-67 positivity index ( OR = 1.042, 95% CI: 1.014-1.071, P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for HER2 positivity. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of HER2 positive breast cancer which was difficult to be determined by IHC was 0.816 (95% CI: 0.732-0.883), that was higher than 0.712 (95% CI: 0.620-0.794) of V max, 0.601 (95% CI: 0.504-0.692) of axillary lymph node metastasis and 0.706 (95% CI: 0.613-0.788) of Ki-67 positivity index based on the nomogram constructed by the above independent risk factors, with statistically significant differences (all P < 0.05). The calibration curve showed that the predicted probability of the nomogram model was close to the actual probability, and DCA indicated that the clinical net benefit of the model was good. Conclusions:The nomogram constructed based on ultrasonic SWE parameter V max, axillary lymph node metastasis and Ki-67 positivity index has a good predictive effect on HER2 status of breast cancer which is difficult to be determined by IHC.

Objective:To explore the preliminary clinical application efficacy of the side branch protection (SBP) technique in single stent-assisted coiling (SSAC) for the treatment of intracranial acute-angulated absolute wide neck bifurcation aneurysms (aWNBA).Methods:The clinical data of 23 patients with aWNBA treated at the Department of Interventional Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to June 2024 were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into two groups based on the stent type used: 11 in the side branch protection (SBP) group and 12 in the double stent-assisted coiling (DSAC) group. The characteristics of aWNBA including the size, the first and second angles between side branches and main artery, and the diameter of aneurysm, were analyzed preoperatively. Stent thromboembolism was recorded during the operation, and Raymond-Roy Occlusion Classification (RROC) and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were used to evaluate the treatment efficacy postoperatively. During the follow-up period the RROC and mRS were reevaluated and the stent stenosis was recorded. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the two groups′ data of skewed distribution, χ2 test and Fisher′s exact test were used to compare the two groups′ categorical data. Results:The 23 patients with aWNBA included 11 with aneurysms at the bifurcation of the middle cerebral artery, 6 at the top of the basilar artery, and 6 at the bifurcation of the anterior communicating artery. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of aWNBA basic characteristics before operation (all P>0.05). The SBP group had a lower incidence of intraoperative stent thromboembolism and a lower mRS postoperatively compared to DSAC group (all P<0.05); meanwhile, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups on RROC after the operation ( P=0.949). During the follow-up period, the SBP group had lower rates of stent stenosis and mRS compared to the DSAC group (all P<0.05) and there was no statistically significant difference between two groups in RROC ( P=0.527). Conclusions:In cases of dense coiling on aWNBA, the SBP technique in SSAC is able to reduce incidence of the stent thromboembolism, stent stenosis as well as neurological injury; therefore, it is a safe and feasible therapeutic strategy for the aWNBA.

BACKGROUND:Acellular cartilage extracellular matrix is effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis,but its efficacy is limited when applied alone.Oxymatrine alleviates interleukin-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of different doses of oxymatrine combined with acellular cartilage extracellular matrix injection in knee cavity on osteoarthritis in rats.METHODS:The femoral cartilage of SD rats was obtained.The acellular cartilage extracellular matrix was prepared by physical,chemical and enzyme methods.Fifty SD rats were selected and divided into sham operation group,osteoarthritis group,simple material group,low-dose drug group,and high-dose drug group by random number table method,with 10 rats in each group.The latter four groups were treated with modified Hulth method to establish the rat model of osteoarthritis.After successful modeling,acellular cartilage extracellular matrix homogenate was injected into the knee cavity of rats in the simple material group.Acellular cartilage extracellular matrix homogenate containing 50,100 μg oxymatrine was injected into the knee cavity of rats in the low-dose drug group and the high-dose drug group,respectively.Samples were taken 4 weeks after injection for relevant detection.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Compared with the sham operation group,the concentrations of interleukin 1β,tumor necrosis factor ɑ,and malondialdehyde in the joint effusion were increased (P<0.05),and the concentration of superoxide dismutase in the joint effusion was decreased (P<0.05) in the osteoarthritis group.Compared with osteoarthritis group,the levels of interleukin 1β,tumor necrosis factor ɑ,and malondialdehyde in joint effusion were decreased (P<0.05),while the level of superoxide dismutase was increased (P<0.05) in the low-dose drug group and high-dose drug group,and the changes were more significant in high-dose drug group.(2) TUNEL staining showed that compared with sham operation group,apoptotic chondrocytes increased in osteoarthritis group.Compared with the osteoarthritis group,the apoptotic chondrocytes decreased in the simple material group,the low-dose drug group,and the high-dose drug group,and the decrease was more significant in the high-dose drug group.(3) Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining showed that the knee cartilage was seriously degraded,the expression of type Ⅱ collagen was decreased (P<0.05),and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 was increased (P<0.05) in the osteoarthritis group.Compared with the osteoarthritis group,the knee cartilage degeneration of rats in the simple material group,the low-dose drug group,and the high-dose drug group was significantly improved;the expression of type Ⅱ collagen was increased (P<0.05) and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 was decreased (P<0.05),and the improvement was most significant in the high-dose drug group.(4) Western blot assay showed that compared with sham operation group,the expression of Nrf2,HO-1,and Bcl-2 protein in cartilage tissue decreased (P<0.05);expression levels of Cleaved-caspase-3,Cleaved-caspase-9,and Bax were increased (P<0.05) in the osteoarthritis group.Compared with the osteoarthritis group,the protein expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1,and Bcl-2 were increased (P<0.05),and the protein expressions of Cleaved-caspase-3,Cleaved-caspase-9,and Bax were decreased (P<0.05) in the low-dose and high-dose drug groups.The improvement was more significant in the high-dose drug group.(5) In conclusion,intracavicular injection of acellular cartilage extracellular matrix and oxymatrine can promote the synthesis of extracellular matrix,inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress,and suppress chondrocyte apoptosis,and play a therapeutic role in osteoarthritis,which may be related to the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.