Retinoblastoma(RB)represents the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor in infants and young children, posing a severe threat to the visual acuity and life of affected patients. Clinically, it is categorized into hereditary and non-hereditary subtypes. Mounting evidence indicates that RB cells most likely originate from cone photoreceptor precursor cells, and the tumorigenesis is closely associated with the inactivation of the RB1 gene. Beyond RB1, a growing list of genes including MYCN, TP53 and PRMT1 have been implicated in the initiation and progression of RB. Concurrently, the dysregulation of multiple signaling pathways such as RB/E2F, WNT, and PI3K/AKT synergistically drives the survival, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of RB tumor cells. The therapeutic paradigm for RB has undergone a dramatic shift from the conventional enucleation-dominated approach to personalized multimodal therapies that prioritize globe salvage and visual preservation, encompassing local therapies, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Moreover, novel therapeutic modalities including targeted therapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy are currently under active preclinical and clinical investigation. In recent years, long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs), as pivotal regulators of genetic expression, have attracted increasing attention for their critical roles in RB oncogenesis and progression. These molecules hold great promise to serve as novel diagnostic biomarkers and offer innovative insights and strategies for RB treatment. This review summarizes the latest research advances in the aforementioned aspects of retinoblastoma.

BACKGROUND:The Twin-block orthodontic appliance is commonly used for the correction of Class Ⅱ malocclusion.Its mechanism of action in stimulating mandibular growth has been confirmed in many studies,but its impact on maxillary growth is not very clear. OBJECTIVE:By establishing a finite element model to analyze the stress distribution of the maxillary complex,surrounding bone sutures,and maxillary dentition in patients with Class Ⅱ malocclusion wearing Twin-block orthodontic appliances. METHODS:One patient with Class Ⅱ malocclusion who underwent orthodontic treatment at Qingdao Hospital/Qingdao Municipal Hospital of Shandong Rehabilitation University was selected.The bite force data of the patient when wearing the Twin-block orthodontic appliance was measured,and CBCT data were collected.A finite element model was established,including the maxillary complex,peripheral sutures,Twin-block orthodontic appliance,and maxillary dentition.ABAQUS software was used to simulate the stress distribution in the maxilla and maxillary dentition when the patient was wearing the Twin-block appliance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The equivalent stress on the maxillary anterior teeth was significantly smaller than that on the posterior teeth,and the maximum equivalent stress on both sides of the teeth were 4.797 5 Mpa and 8.716 1 Mpa,respectively,which were located at the first premolar.The maximum displacements were presented at the maxillary incisors on both sides of the teeth,which were 0.080 5 mm and 0.081 0 mm,respectively.The maximum equivalent stress on the bone suture was 1.284 Mpa,which was mainly concentrated in the pterygopalatine suture and the frontal-maxillary suture on both sides,and there was almost no difference in the force of the rest of bone sutures;the maximum displacement of the bone suture was 0.07 mm,with the pterygopalatine suture having the largest displacement,followed by the frontal-maxillary suture.The maximal equivalent stress on the maxillary complex was 27.18 Mpa,which was mainly concentrated on both sides of the anterior pyriform foramen of the maxilla,around the nasofrontal suture and around the pterygopalatine suture at the posterior part of the jaws.The maximal displacement of the maxilla was 0.07 mm,which was mainly concentrated on the maxillary alveolar bone.All these findings show that the occlusal force acts on the maxillary complex through the Twin-block appliance,resulting in clockwise rotation of the maxilla and steepening of the dentition plane.Measures should be taken to compensate for this tendency,for example,by considering maxillary molar elongation and intrusion in the process of occlusion,which are not only able to flatten the occlusal plane,but facilitate the mandibular protraction,thereby further improving Class Ⅱ malocclusion orthodontic treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the predictive value of norepinephrine equivalence (NEE) score on the 28-day death risk in patients with sepsis and provide evidence for its application in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis and septic shock. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the data of patients with sepsis from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV 2.2 (MIMIC-IV 2.2). The patients who received vasoactive agents within 6 hours after the diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock were enrolled, and they were divided into survival and non-survival groups based on their 28-day outcomes. The baseline characteristics, vital signs, and treatment data were collected. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing the 28-day death risk. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to analyze the predictive value of various parameters on the 28-day death risk of septic patients. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to evaluate cumulative survival rate in patients classified by different quantitative parameters based on the cut-off values obtained from ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 7 744 patients who met the Sepsis-3 diagnostic criteria and received vasopressor treatment within 6 hours post-diagnosis were enrolled, of which 5 997 cases survived and 1 747 died, with the 28-day mortality of 22.6%. Significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding age, gender, height, body weight, race, type of intensive care unit (ICU), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score, underlying comorbidities, and vital signs. Compared with the survival group, the non-survival group had poorer blood routine, liver and kidney function, coagulation function, blood gas analysis and other indicators. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that age > 65 years old [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.892, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.801-0.994, P = 0.039] and male (HR = 0.735, 95%CI was 0.669-0.808, P < 0.001) were protective factors for 28-day death in patients with sepsis, and NEE score (HR = 1.040, 95%CI was 1.021-1.060, P < 0.001), shock index (HR = 1.840, 95%CI was 1.675-2.022, P < 0.001), APACHE II score (HR = 1.076, 95%CI was 1.069-1.083, P < 0.001), SOFA score (HR = 1.035, 95%CI was 1.015-1.056, P < 0.001), and CCI score (HR = 1.135, 95%CI was 1.115-1.155, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for 28-day death in septic patients. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of NEE score for predicting the 28-day death risk of septic patients was 0.743 (95%CI was 0.730-0.756), which was comparable to the predictive value of APACHE II score (AUC = 0.742, 95%CI was 0.729-0.755) and ratio of mean arterial pressure (MAP)/NEE score (MAP/NEE; AUC = 0.738, 95%CI was 0.725-0.751, both P > 0.05), and better than SOFA score (AUC = 0.609, 95%CI was 0.594-0.624), CCI score (AUC = 0.658, 95%CI was 0.644-0.673), shock index (AUC = 0.613, 95%CI was 0.597-0.629) and ratio of diastolic blood pressure (DBP)/NEE score (DBP/NEE; AUC = 0.735, 95%CI was 0.721-0.748, all P < 0.05). According to the cut-off values of APACHE II and NEE scores obtained from ROC curve analysis, the patients were stratified for Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis, and the results showed that the 28-day cumulative survival rate in the septic patients with an APACHE II score ≤ 22.5 was significantly higher than that in those with an APACHE II > 22.5 (Log-Rank test: χ² = 848.600, P < 0.001), and the 28-day cumulative survival rate in the septic patients with an NEE score ≤0.120 was significantly higher than that in those with an NEE score > 0.120 (Log-Rank test: χ² = 832.449, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS NEE score is an independent risk factor for 28-day death in septic patients who received vasoactive treatment within 6 hours of diagnosis and possesses significant predictive value. It can be used for severity stratification in sepsis management.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis/diagnosis* ; Male ; Female ; Norepinephrine/therapeutic use* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Prognosis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Shock, Septic/mortality* ; Adult ; ROC Curve ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Aged, 80 and over

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms distinguishing metabolically healthy from unhealthy phenotypes within the same BMI categories remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between regional fat distribution and metabolically unhealthy phenotypes in Chinese adults across different BMI categories. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involving 11833 Chinese adults aged 20 years and older. Covariance analysis, adjusted for age, compared the percentage of regional fat (trunk, leg, or arm fat divided by whole-body fat) between metabolically healthy and unhealthy participants. Trends in regional fat percentage with the number of metabolic abnormalities were assessed by the Jonckheere-Terpstra test. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by logistic regression models. All analyses were performed separately by sex. RESULTS: In non-obese individuals, metabolically unhealthy participants exhibited higher percent trunk fat and lower percent leg fat compared to healthy participants. Additionally, percent trunk fat increased and percent leg fat decreased with the number of metabolic abnormalities. After adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors, as well as BMI, higher percent trunk fat was associated with increased odds of being metabolically unhealthy [highest vs. lowest quartile: ORs (95%CI) of 1.64 (1.35, 2.00) for men and 2.00 (1.63, 2.46) for women]. Conversely, compared with the lowest quartile, the ORs (95%CI) of metabolically unhealthy phenotype in the highest quartile for percent arm and leg fat were 0.64 (0.53, 0.78) and 0.60 (0.49, 0.74) for men, and 0.72 (0.56, 0.93) and 0.46 (0.36, 0.59) for women, respectively. Significant interactions between BMI and percentage of trunk and leg fat were observed in both sexes, with stronger associations found in individuals with normal weight and overweight. CONCLUSIONS Trunk fat is associated with a higher risk of metabolically unhealthy phenotype, while leg and arm fat are protective factors. Regional fat distribution assessments are crucial for identifying metabolically unhealthy phenotypes, particularly in non-obese individuals.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Surveys ; Phenotype

Objective:To summarize and compare the clinical characteristics of immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated pneumonia(CIP)in elderly and non-elderly lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs).Methods:We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data from 61 patients who developed CIP following ICIs treatment in the Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Department and the Oncology Department of Beijing Hospital from May 2016 to April 2024.The clinical characteristics of patients aged 65 years and older were compared with those of patients younger than 65 years.Results:A total of 61 patients were included in the study, with 26 patients in the group aged <65 years[aged 39-64(56.3±5.6)years].Within this group, the clinical grades were distributed as follows: 5 patients in grade 1(G1), 12 in grade 2(G2), 7 in grade 3(G3), and 2 in grade 4(G4).Twelve patients underwent bronchoscopy, while 17 patients received corticosteroid therapy after developing CIP.Additionally, 20 patients permanently discontinued immunotherapy due to CIP.Notably, one patient showed improvement in CIP following treatment, which allowed for the continuation of ICIs.Importantly, no patients in this group experienced mortality due to CIP.In the group aged ≥65 years[aged 65-83(71.9±4.9)years], there were 35 patients, categorized as follows: 4 in G1, 22 in G2, 5 in G3, and 4 in G4.Twenty-one patients underwent bronchoscopy, 31 received corticosteroid therapy after developing CIP, and 30 patients permanently discontinued immunotherapy due to CIP.Similarly, one patient in this group demonstrated improvement in CIP following treatment, which permitted the continuation of ICIs.Importantly, no patients in this group experienced mortality due to CIP.Compared to patients aged <65 years, those aged ≥65 years experienced a shorter median time to the occurrence of CIP, with a median of 2(1, 4)months versus 5.5(2, 8)months for the younger group( Z=-3.231, P=0.001).Furthermore, a higher proportion of patients aged ≥65 years received corticosteroid therapy after developing CIP(88.57% or 31 cases)compared to 65.38%(17 cases)in the younger group( χ2=4.704, P=0.030).There were no statistically significant differences in the occurrence of CIP symptoms or chest imaging characteristics between the two age groups(both P>0.05). Conclusions:Patients aged 65 years and older experience a shorter median time to develop CIP following the use of ICIs.However, there is no significant difference in clinical outcomes when compared to the group aged under 65 years, provided that early identification and diagnosis are achieved.

BACKGROUND: Urolithiasis is a widespread disease with a high prevalence worldwide. This study aims to evaluate the disease burden of urolithiasis and its trends from 1990 to 2021 globally, based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 database. METHODS: The numbers and age-standardized rates (ASRs) of incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality of urolithiasis were extracted from GBD 2021 to represent the disease burden. Joinpoint regression analyses were conducted to assess the temporal trends in the burden of urolithiasis. The male-to-female ASR ratio indices were used to evaluate sex disparities. Additionally, we explored the relationship between the ASR ratio and the sociodemographic index (SDI). RESULTS: The total numbers of incidence, DALY, and mortality of urolithiasis were 105,983,780 cases (95% uncertainty interval [UI] = 88,349,356-128,645,155 cases), 693,444 cases (95% UI = 567,765-850,490 cases), and 17,672 cases (95% UI = 13,932-21,241 cases), respectively, in 2021. There is an increasing trend in the number of these measures globally, whereas the ASRs have decreased over the past 30 years. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) were significantly higher in males than in females in 2021. The sex disparities in the age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) and ASMR of urolithiasis were negatively correlated with the SDI. In 2021, the ASIR of urolithiasis was 964.70 (95% UI = 801.26-1175.09) per 100,000 people in China, which is much lower than the global average (1242.84 [95% UI = 1034.94-1506.99] per 100,000 people). Compared with the global average, a more pronounced decline in ASIR was observed in China from 1793.16 (1446.0-2235.14) in 1990 to 964.70 (801.26-1175.09) per 100,000 people in 2021. CONCLUSIONS Urolithiasis poses a significant healthcare burden worldwide. More robust global and national strategies are warranted to address the prevention and treatment, especially in low SDI countries and regions.
Humans ; Urolithiasis/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; Incidence ; Global Burden of Disease ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

Objective:To clarify the current status of mechanical ventilation management in critically ill patients and identify prognostic risk factors in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, thereby providing evidence for targeted training programs and quality improvement initiatives.Methods:A cohort study was conducted across multiple ICUs in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 31 to February 1, 2024. Patients receiving mechanical ventilation during the study period were enrolled, with clinical outcomes followed up until February 28, 2024. Statistical analyses included demographic characteristics, therapeutic interventions, laboratory parameters, and medication regimens.Results:A total of 77 ICUs and 727 patients were screened in the study, and 253 (34.80%) patients who received mechanical ventilation were ultimately included. Among these patients, 177 patients (69.96%) were treated in tertiary hospitals, and 76 patients (30.04%) in secondary hospitals. Significant differences were observed between tertiary and secondary hospitals regarding ventilator mode selection and mechanical ventilation parameter settings (all P<0.05). No significant differences were found in the 28-day mortality rate between tertiary hospitals and secondary hospitals (33.9% vs. 43.4%, P=0.194). Compared with patients in the survival group, death group patients were older and had more severe disease severity. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that body temperature ( HR=1.573, 95% CI: 1.173-2.110, P=0.003), white blood cell count ( HR=1.048, 95% CI: 1.012-1.084, P=0.008), pH ( HR=0.019, 95% CI: 0.001-0.349, P=0.007), age > 65 years ( HR=1.817, 95% CI: 1.086-3.041, P=0.023), and fraction of inspired oxygen ≥ 60% ( HR=2.072, 95% CI: 1.143-3.757, P=0.016) were independent influencing factors for 28-day mortality in mechanically ventilated patients. Conclusions:Mechanically ventilated patients are a major component of the ICU population in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with the characteristics of high risk of death. The clinical practice of mechanical ventilation in this region is heterogeneous. In the future, it is urgent to strengthen the improvement of medical quality and related training to improve the success rate of patients with mechanical ventilation.

Hip joint cysts are a type of cystic lesion involving the hip joint and its surrounding soft tissues,mainly caused by degenerative changes or abnormal synovium.In imaging examinations,MRI and ultrasound examinations are crucial for the diagnosis of cysts.The clinical manifestations of hip joint cysts mainly include pain,swelling and compression symptoms.The treatment strategy depends on the size of the cyst,the severity of the symptoms and the nature of the primary disease.Conservative treatment can be adopted for asymptomatic patients,while symptomatic patients may require puncture aspiration or surgical treatment.In surgical treatment,hip arthroscopy has gradually become the preferred treatment due to its minimally invasive and high-precision characteristics.

Hip joint cysts are a type of cystic lesion involving the hip joint and its surrounding soft tissues,mainly caused by degenerative changes or abnormal synovium.In imaging examinations,MRI and ultrasound examinations are crucial for the diagnosis of cysts.The clinical manifestations of hip joint cysts mainly include pain,swelling and compression symptoms.The treatment strategy depends on the size of the cyst,the severity of the symptoms and the nature of the primary disease.Conservative treatment can be adopted for asymptomatic patients,while symptomatic patients may require puncture aspiration or surgical treatment.In surgical treatment,hip arthroscopy has gradually become the preferred treatment due to its minimally invasive and high-precision characteristics.

Objective:To summarize and compare the clinical characteristics of immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated pneumonia(CIP)in elderly and non-elderly lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs).Methods:We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data from 61 patients who developed CIP following ICIs treatment in the Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Department and the Oncology Department of Beijing Hospital from May 2016 to April 2024.The clinical characteristics of patients aged 65 years and older were compared with those of patients younger than 65 years.Results:A total of 61 patients were included in the study, with 26 patients in the group aged <65 years[aged 39-64(56.3±5.6)years].Within this group, the clinical grades were distributed as follows: 5 patients in grade 1(G1), 12 in grade 2(G2), 7 in grade 3(G3), and 2 in grade 4(G4).Twelve patients underwent bronchoscopy, while 17 patients received corticosteroid therapy after developing CIP.Additionally, 20 patients permanently discontinued immunotherapy due to CIP.Notably, one patient showed improvement in CIP following treatment, which allowed for the continuation of ICIs.Importantly, no patients in this group experienced mortality due to CIP.In the group aged ≥65 years[aged 65-83(71.9±4.9)years], there were 35 patients, categorized as follows: 4 in G1, 22 in G2, 5 in G3, and 4 in G4.Twenty-one patients underwent bronchoscopy, 31 received corticosteroid therapy after developing CIP, and 30 patients permanently discontinued immunotherapy due to CIP.Similarly, one patient in this group demonstrated improvement in CIP following treatment, which permitted the continuation of ICIs.Importantly, no patients in this group experienced mortality due to CIP.Compared to patients aged <65 years, those aged ≥65 years experienced a shorter median time to the occurrence of CIP, with a median of 2(1, 4)months versus 5.5(2, 8)months for the younger group( Z=-3.231, P=0.001).Furthermore, a higher proportion of patients aged ≥65 years received corticosteroid therapy after developing CIP(88.57% or 31 cases)compared to 65.38%(17 cases)in the younger group( χ2=4.704, P=0.030).There were no statistically significant differences in the occurrence of CIP symptoms or chest imaging characteristics between the two age groups(both P>0.05). Conclusions:Patients aged 65 years and older experience a shorter median time to develop CIP following the use of ICIs.However, there is no significant difference in clinical outcomes when compared to the group aged under 65 years, provided that early identification and diagnosis are achieved.