Objective: To evaluate the radiation dose, operational standardization, and image quality of computed tomography (CT) Ningbo City Medical Imaging Cloud Platform, so as to provide references for optimizing the quality of CT examinations. Methods: Six CT devices were randomly selected from the Ningbo City Medical Imaging Cloud Platform. Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) image data from CT examinations of the head, neck, chest, and abdomen in males aged 36 to 60 years were collected from January 2023 to December 2024. The radiation dose levels were evaluated using the volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP). The coefficient of variation (CV) of CTDIvol and scan length were calculated to assess scan stability. Operational standardization was evaluated using the redundancy rate of scan length and protocol matching degree. Imaging quality was assessed using the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and contrast to noise ratio (CNR). Results: A total of 28 897 DICOM images were collected, including 6 730 axial scans of the skull, 2 778 plain scans of the neck, 15 496 plain scans of the chest, and 3 893 plain scans of the abdomen. The typical values of CTDIvol and DLP radiation doses for the head, neck, and chest were all lower than the diagnostic reference levels. The maximum typical values of CTDIvol and DLP for the abdomen were 22.49 mGy and 941.45 mGy·cm, respectively, which were higher than the diagnostic reference levels. The CV values of CTDIvol and scan length ranged from 14.59% to 37.88% and from 8.27% to 44.96%, respectively. The scan stability of head CT was relatively poor, with CV values ranging from 21.74% to 37.88% and from 12.66% to 44.96%, respectively. The redundancy rate of scan length ranged from 6.02% to 74.40%, and the protocol matching degree ranged from 79.80% to 100.00%. The operational standardization of neck CT was relatively poor, with redundancy rates ranging from 45.70% to 74.40% and protocol matching degrees ranging from 79.80% to 95.36%. The mean SNR and mean CNR of the pulmonary arteries in the chest were relatively high, ranging from 15.81 to 17.65 and from 6.33 to 7.41, respectively. Conclusions The radiation doses from abdominal CT examinations on some CT devices exceed the diagnostic reference levels. The scan stability of head CT examinations and the operational standardization of neck CT examinations represent weak points in quality control. It is recommended to carry out targeted quality control training to enhance the overall quality level of CT examinations.

Hyperglycemia is a primary biological characteristic of diabetes.It is well known that three key indicators are commonly used in clinical practice to measure plasma glucose levels,such as 2-hour postload glucose(2hPG),fasting plasma glucose(FPG),and glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c).However,the association between these indicators and breast cancer incidence remains unclear.This paper systematically reviews the relationship between plasma glucose levels and breast cancer based on the above three indicators,to provide a reference for the formulation of effective plasma glucose management strategies for the primary prevention of breast cancer.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features and genetic sequencing results of a patient with Kallmann syndrome(KS) carrying digenic mutations who initially presented with osteoporosis, and to enhance awareness of this disease phenotype.Methods:Clinical data were collected, and peripheral blood DNA was extracted for whole-exome sequencing. Relevant literature was reviewed to summarize phenotypes associated with digenic/oligogenic variants involving CHD7.Results:The patient exhibited back pain, delayed development of secondary sexual characteristics, and hyposmia. Laboratory tests revealed reduced sex hormones and gonadotropin levels, while pituitary imaging was unremarkable. Bone mineral density imaging confirmed osteoporosis, and thoracolumbar X-rays showed multiple vertebral compression fractures. Genetic analysis identified a heterozygous splice-site mutation in CHD7(c.2698-1G>T) and a heterozygous missense mutation in WDR11(c.439G>A: p.D147N). According to ACMG criteria, the CHD7 mutation was classified as pathogenic, while the WDR11 variant was defined as a variant of uncertain significance(VUS). Literature review indicated that 40% of KS patients with digenic/oligogenic variants involving CHD7 presented with hearing or ocular abnormalities.Conclusion:This study reports a novel CHD7 mutation and a previously undescribed digenic combination of CHD7 and WDR11 variants in a KS patient. CHD7 variants may be implicated in auditory or ocular involvement in KS cases with digenic/oligogenic inheritances. KS patients may also manifest skeletal abnormalities in addition to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Tailored management of sex hormones and osteoporosis therapies across life stages is essential for optimizing bone health in KS.

Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Tic Disorders/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics, therapeutic responses and prognostic features of E2A-PBX1 fusion gene for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: A total of 837 pediatric patients with ALL who were initially diagnosed in our hospital from July 2010 to November 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, 48 children with positive E2A-PBX1 fusion gene were detected by the real-time quantitative PCR techniques and their data were retrospectively collected for analysis. RESULTS: Among 48 cases with positive E2A-PBX1 fusion gene, there were 26 males and 22 females, with onset ages ranging from 9 months to 13 years old. There were 2 cases (4.2%) in the low-risk group, 32 cases (66.7%) in the intermediate-risk group, and 14 cases (29.1%) in the high-risk group at initial diagnosis. The white blood cell (WBC) counts of 25 cases (53.2%) at initial diagnosis were <50×10⁹/L, 11 cases (23.4%) were (50-100)×10⁹/L, and 11 cases (23.4%) ≥100×10⁹/L. The main immunophenotype was common-B ALL (44 cases, 91.7%). Other leukemia fusion genes such as BCR-ABL1, MLL-AF4, and TEL-AML1 were not observed in this cohort of patients. All patients received the treatment of NPCLC-ALL2008 protocol, and 5 cases (10.4%) occurred poor prednisone response. All the 48 cases achieved complete remission (CR) after the induction treatments. The last follow-up date was April 30, 2023. A total of 5 children relapsed, including 1 case with intermediate risk and 4 cases with high risk. The recurrence rate in the high-risk group was significantly higher than that in the intermediate- and low-risk groups (both P < 0.05). Most relapsed children had elevated WBC counts at initial diagnosis. Among them, WBC counts ≥100×10⁹/L was observed in 4 cases. The recurrence rate among children with WBC counts ≥100×10⁹/L was significantly higher than that with WBC counts <100×10⁹/L (P < 0.01). Four deaths occurred in this cohort, of which 3 died of leukemia recurrence. The 10-year event-free survival rate and 10-year overall survival rate of the 48 children with positive E2A-PBX1 fusion gene were 87.5%±4.8% and 91.7%±4.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION In ALL children with positive E2A-PBX1 fusion gene, those with elevated WBC counts and high risk stratification at initial diagnosis are more likely to experience recurrence. Recurrence is the main cause of death in this group. It is suggested that such kind of children receive more intensive chemotherapy or undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as early as possible to further improve prognosis.
Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis* ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Adolescent ; Retrospective Studies ; Infant ; Homeodomain Proteins

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of apelin in regulating proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of bladder cancer cells and the possible regulatory mechanism. METHODS: GEO database was used to screen the differentially expressed genes in bladder cancer tissues and cells. Bladder cancer and paired adjacent tissues were collected from 60 patients for analysis of apelin expressions in relation to clinicopathological parameters. In cultured bladder cancer J82 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), the effects of transfection with an apelin-overexpressing plasmid or specific siRNAs targeting apelin, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) on proliferation and migration of J82 cells and tube formation in HUVECs were examined using plate cloning assay, Transwell assay, and angiogenesis assay; the changes in FGF2 expression and FGFR1 phosphorylation were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: The expression level of apelin was significantly higher in bladder cancer tissues than adjacent tissues, and bladder cancer cell lines (T24 and J82) also expressed higher mRNA and protein levels of apelin than SV-HUC-1 cells. Apelin expression level in bladder cancer tissues was correlated with tumor invasion, distant metastasis and advanced TNM stages. Apelin knockdown significantly suppressed proliferation and migration of J82 cells and decreased the total angiogenic length of HUVECs. In contrast, apelin overexpression significantly promoted proliferation and migration and enhanced FGFR1 phosphorylation in J82 cells, and increased the total angiogenesis length in HUVECs, but this effects were effectively mitigated by transfection of the cells with FGF2 siRNA or FGFR1 siRNA. CONCLUSIONS High expression of apelin promotes J82 cell proliferation and migration and HUVEC angiogenesis by promoting activation of the FGF2/FGFR1 pathway.
Humans ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/blood supply* ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/metabolism* ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Signal Transduction ; Apelin ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics* ; Female ; Male ; Angiogenesis

Objective:To analyze the disease burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) among young and middle-aged people in China from 1990 to 2021, and to explore the influence of age, period and cohort on the incidence and mortality of CRC in young and middle-aged people of China.Methods:Data on CRC in patients aged 40-59 years in China from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) database. Statistics such as incidence rate, mortality rate, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), and their corresponding age-standardized rates were calculated to analyze the CRC incidence and mortality in different age and sex groups of young and middle-aged Chinese young people from 1990 to 2021. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the CRC incidence, the mortality and the DALY rate, as well as to calculate the annual percentage change (APC) and the average annual percentage change (AAPC). The effects of three independent factors, namely age, period and cohort, on the incidence and mortality of CRC in young and middle-aged people of China were analyzed and evaluated through the age-period-cohort model.Results:From 1990 to 2021, there was a remarkable upward trend in the incidence, mortality, and DALY of CRC among Chinese young and middle-aged adults. In 2021, the number of incidence cases of CRC among young and middle-aged people in China reached 181 000, and the number of deaths reached 57 900, which were 236.80% and 75.48% higher than those in 1990 (53 800 and 33 000, respectively). During the same period, DALY increased by 62.59%, with the 55-59 age group having the largest increase at 83.35%. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) increased by 49.04%, rising from 25.51/100 000 to 38.02/100 000, and the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) declined by 28.75%, decreasing from 17.01/100 000 to 12.12/100 000, respectively. The increase in ASIR was the greatest among the 40-44 age group, reaching 57.31%, while the decline in ASMR was the most significant among the 50-54 age group, amounting to 30.18%. However, the DALY rate declined by 26.66%, from 673.52/100 000 to 493.94/100 000. The decline in DALY was the greatest among the 50-54 age group, reaching 28.26%. Joinpoint regression model analysis showed that, from 1990 to 2021, the incidence of CRC in Chinese young and middle-aged adults rose on average by 1.32% annually, and the increase was higher in men (1.87%) than that in women (0.36%). The mortality rate showed a downward trend, with an average annual decline of 1.10%, with a higher decline in women than in men (-2.14% vs. -0.50%). The DALY rate showed a downward trend, with an average annual decline of 1.00%, and more decline in women than in men (-2.06% vs. -0.41%). All of these trends were statistically significant (all P<0.001). The age-period-cohort model analysis showed that, the net drift of CRC incidence was 1.21% (1.02%-1.41%) per year among Chinese young and middle-aged adults between 1990 and 2021, while the net drift in mortality was -1.40% (-1.59%--1.21%) per year. The impact of age on CRC incidence and mortality intensified with advancing age. Incidence attributable to age rose from 12.66% (11.90%- 13.46%) in the 40-44 age group to 56.68% (54.37%-59.08%) in the 55-59 age group. Similarly, mortality attributable to age increased from 6.47% (6.12%-6.85%) in the 40-44 age group to 25.74% (24.58%-26.96%) in the 55-59 age group. In all age groups, the role of CRC incidence and mortality attributable to age was higher in men than in women. Period effects on the RR value of CRC incidence showed a declining trend followed by an upward trend, with the highest risk during 2015-2019 ( RR=1.36, 95% CI: 1.28-1.43), using 2000-2004 as the reference. For mortality, period effects exhibited a declining trend, with the highest risk during 1990-1994 ( RR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.15-1.32), using 2000-2004 as the reference. Cohort effects indicated that later birth cohorts had higher incidence risks, with the highest incidence observed in the 1973-1977 birth cohort ( RR=1.30, 95% CI: 1.16-1.45), using the 1953-1957 birth cohort as the reference. Conversely, later birth cohorts had lower mortality risks, with the lowest mortality in the 1973-1977 birth cohort ( RR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.69-0.88), using the 1953-1957 birth cohort as the reference. Conclusions:From 1990 to 2021, the changes in the disease burden of CRC among young and middle-aged people in China are manifested as an increase in standardized incidence rate and a decrease in standardized mortality rate. Meanwhile, there are gender differences in the trend of temporal changes. Age, period and cohort all have a significant impact on the incidence and mortality trends of colorectal cancer in young and middle-aged people. Research on the etiology of CRC should be strengthened, and targeted prevention and control strategies should be formulated.

Objective:To observe the diuretic effects of Zhuling Decoction on mice with adriamycin nephropathy (ADRN); To explore its mechanism.Methods:Totally 32 SPF male C57BL/6 mice were divided into a blank group of 7 mice and a model group of 25 mice using a random number table method. ADRN model was prepared by single tail vein injection of 0.01 g/kg of amphotericin. Two weeks later, the successfully modeled mice were divided into a model group (7 mice), a furosemide group (8 mice), and a Zhuling Decoction group (8 mice). The blank group and model group mice were given equal volumes of injection water by gavage. The furosemide group was given 2.6 mg/kg of furosemide by gavage, and the Zhuling Decoction group was given 6.5 g/kg of Zhuling Decoction by gavage, once a day, for 8 consecutive weeks. Changes in body weight and urine output of mice were observed. A biochemical analyzer was used to detect 24-hour urinary protein quantification and blood potassium and SCr levels in mice. HE staining was used to observe pathological changes in mouse kidneys, and immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the homology of cyclin dependent kinase 18 (CDK18), STIP1, and the expressions of U-box protein 1 (STUB1) and aquaporin 2 (AQP2) in mouse kidney tissue cells.Results:Compared with the model group, both the furosemide and Zhuling Decoction groups exhibited increased 24-hour urine output ( P<0.05); compared with the model group and furosemide group, Zhuling Decoction group showed reduced average optical density values and protein expressions of CDK18 and AQP2 ( P<0.05) and increased STUB1 average optical density value and protein expression ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Zhuling Decoction can increase 24-hour urine output in ADRN mice, and the mechanism may be related to down-regulation of CDK18 and AQP2 protein expressions and up-regulation of STUB1 protein expression, thereby modulating the CDK18/STUB1/AQP2 pathway and reducing water reabsorption.

Objective To explore the effects of Rhodiola salidroside on regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signaling pathway and explore its impact on hippocampal neuron autophagy and apoptosis induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion(OGD/R).Methods The mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line HT22 was cultured in vitro and randomly divided into control group,OGD/R group,salidroside group,tert-butylhydroquinone(TBHQ)group,and salidroside+TBHQgroup.Except for control group,cell models were established by OGD/R induction in other groups.Cells in corresponding groups were treated with Rhodiola salidroside(500 μmol/L)and/or MAPK activator TBHQ(50 μmol/L)for 24 h.The lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)release rates were measured,cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry,and cell viability was assessed by MTT assay.Acridine orange(AO)staining was used to detect autophagy.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukins(IL)-6,IL-8,and IL-17,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α).Western blotting was performed to detect the expression levels of proteins related to apoptosis,autophagy,and the MAPK/ERK/mTOR signaling pathway.Results Salidroside(500 μmol/L)significantly enhanced the viability of OGD/R-induced HT22 cells(P＜0.05),without obvious effect on the viability of normally cultured HT22 cells(P＞0.05).Compared with control group,OGD/R group showed significantly increased LDH release rates,apoptosis rates,autophagosome formation rates,levels of IL-6,IL-8,IL-17 and TNF-α,expressions of Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),Cleaved Caspase-3,Caspase-3 and Beclin-1 protein,ratios of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ,phosphorylation(p)-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK,and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2(P＜0.05),while cell viability and p-mTOR/mTOR ratio were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with OGD/R group,salidroside group had significantly reduced LDH release rates,apoptosis rates,autophagosome formation rates,levels of IL-6,IL-8,IL-17,and TNF-α,expressions of Bax,Cleaved Caspase-3,Caspase-3,Beclin-1 protein,and ratios of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio,p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK,and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2(P＜0.05),while cell viability and p-mTOR/mTOR ratio were significantly increased(P＜0.05).The change of indicators in TBHQgroup showed an opposite trend to those in salidroside(P＜0.05).Compared with salidroside group,salidroside+TBHQgroup had significantly increased LDH release rates,apoptosis rates,autophagosome formation rates,levels of IL-6,IL-8,IL-17 and TNF-α,expressions of Bax,Cleaved Caspase-3,Caspase-3,Beclin-1 protein,and ratios of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ,p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK,and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2(P＜0.05),while cell viability and p-mTOR/mTOR ratio were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Salidroside may inhibit OGD/R-induced hippocampal neuron autophagy and apoptosis by blocking the activation and transmission of MAPK/ERK/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective To propose a high-precision deep learning-based image assessment method of osteosarcoma chemotherapy efficacy for clinical treatment,as existing methos have low accuracy of osteosarcoma assessment.Methods The low incidence of osteosarcoma led to the small scale of its imaging data and the problem of imbalance in data categories.This study combined deep learning with clinical medical information,combined the bone sarcoma generation module of BoneGAN and the scale lesion information capture module,and proposed OMLA-Net,a deep learning assessment network for chemotherapy effect of bone sarcoma based on multi-scale lesion attention network,which achieved computer-aided bone tumor assessment with integrated data augmentation and focused lesion information through pre-training and generalized loss training.Results In this study,40 cases of osteosarcoma MRI data were used as the basis for the comparison test on the generated dataset,and the OMLA-Net assessment outperformed the SOTA method Conv-LSTM-GAN in terms of the assessment effects such as accuracy and F1 scores,and the difference was statistically significant(Bootstrap statistical method P＜0.05);the subsequent K-fold cross-validation ablation experiments further demonstrated the effectiveness of each module proposed by OMLA-Net.Conclusion OMLA-Net can effectively perform the impact assessment of chemotherapy effect on osteosarcoma,which provides a new idea for subsequent clinical application.