BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery has been a common practice for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, but the response rate varies among patients. This study aimed to develop a ResNet-Vision Transformer based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-endoscopy fusion model to precisely predict treatment response and provide personalized treatment. METHODS: In this multicenter study, 366 eligible patients who had undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery at eight Chinese tertiary hospitals between January 2017 and June 2024 were recruited, with 2928 pretreatment colonic endoscopic images and 366 pelvic MRI images. An MRI-endoscopy fusion model was constructed based on the ResNet backbone and Transformer network using pretreatment MRI and endoscopic images. Treatment response was defined as good response or non-good response based on the tumor regression grade. The Delong test and the Hanley-McNeil test were utilized to compare prediction performance among different models and different subgroups, respectively. The predictive performance of the MRI-endoscopy fusion model was comprehensively validated in the test sets and was further compared to that of the single-modal MRI model and single-modal endoscopy model. RESULTS: The MRI-endoscopy fusion model demonstrated favorable prediction performance. In the internal validation set, the area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy were 0.852 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.744-0.940) and 0.737 (95% CI: 0.712-0.844), respectively. Moreover, the AUC and accuracy reached 0.769 (95% CI: 0.678-0.861) and 0.729 (95% CI: 0.628-0.821), respectively, in the external test set. In addition, the MRI-endoscopy fusion model outperformed the single-modal MRI model (AUC: 0.692 [95% CI: 0.609-0.783], accuracy: 0.659 [95% CI: 0.565-0.775]) and the single-modal endoscopy model (AUC: 0.720 [95% CI: 0.617-0.823], accuracy: 0.713 [95% CI: 0.612-0.809]) in the external test set. CONCLUSION The MRI-endoscopy fusion model based on ResNet-Vision Transformer achieved favorable performance in predicting treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and holds tremendous potential for enabling personalized treatment regimens for locally advanced rectal cancer patients.
Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy/methods* ; Aged ; Adult ; Chemoradiotherapy/methods* ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To report the blood group antigen and antibody specificity identification methods for a patient with high-frequency antibodies, and the process of finding and providing compatible blood for the patient.Methods:A patient sent from the Blood Transfusion Department of Shanxi Provincial People′s Hospital to Taiyuan Blood Center in November 2022 was selected for the study. Classical serological methods were used to determine the patient′s blood type, screen for unexpected antibodies, identify antibodies, and perform crossmatching. High-frequency antibody identification was carried out using red blood cells treated with various enzymes. Blood group genotyping was conducted using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and Sanger sequencing. Multiple strategies were employed to address the patient′s blood source problem. The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Taiyuan Blood Center [Ethics No. 2024 Ethics Review No.(2)].Results:①The patient′s blood type was B, RhD positive. Initial screening of the patient′s serum with multiple screening cells and antibody identification cells in saline medium was negative, but positive in antiglobulin medium. The patient′s serum showed varying reaction intensities with red blood cells treated with different enzymes. ②MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and Sanger sequencing revealed a homozygous nonsense variant c. 376C>T (p.Gln126Ter) in the ABCG2 gene, resulting in the Jr(a-) phenotype. During family donor selection, the patient′s son was found to have a heterozygous variant c. 376C>T (p.Gln126Ter), and another heterozygous variant c. 421C>A (p.Gln141Lys), which predicted a Jr(a+ w) phenotype. ③Crossmatch tests confirmed the compatibility of blood from the patient′s son, which was used to address the urgent blood requirement. Later, rare blood from a Jr(a-) donor from the Guangzhou Blood Center was used for the patient′s ongoing treatment, saving the patient′s life. Conclusion:Combining classic serological testing with blood group gene typing techniques successfully identified the rare Jr(a-) blood type and high-frequency anti-Jra antibodies. Enzyme-treated red blood cell identification methods confirmed the presence of anti-Jra antibodies. By searching within the family and seeking help from other blood centers, compatible blood was found. This approach may provide insights for resolving similar complex blood matching problems in the future.

Objective:To explore the regulatory mechanisms underlying the weak expression of ABO blood group antigens due to variants in the non-coding regions of the ABO gene. Methods:From June 2014 to October 2023, a total of 29 samples from the Taiyuan Blood Center and local hospitals, which were serologically identified as having weak ABO antigen expression without detectable coding region mutations, were selected for this study. Full-length ABO gene sequencing was performed using third-generation long-read sequencing technology (Pacific Biosciences) to obtain complete haplotype sequences of the ABO gene. Variants in the non-coding regions were compared and identified to infer their regulatory effects on weak antigen expression. The procedures followed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the World Medical Association′s Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision). The Medical Ethics Committee of Taiyuan Blood Center has granted an exemption from ethical review. Results:18 bp deletions in the -35 to -18 region of the promoter were identified in 7 samples. Variants in intron 1 (+ 5.8 kb) were detected in 7 samples, including ABO* A (28+ 5792_5793delCT (1 case) and ABO* B (28+ 5793T>C) located in the GATA binding region; ABO* B (28+ 5808C>T) (1 case) in the E-box region; and ABO* B (28+ 5875C>T) (4 cases) in the RUNX1 binding region. Nucleotide variants at splice sites were detected in 2 samples, namely ABO* B (C.98+ 1G>A) and ABO* B (C.204-2A>C). Conclusion:Variants in the non-coding regulatory sequences of the ABO gene are a significant factor contributing to weak ABO antigen expression. In clinical ABO sequencing, it is essential to screen not only the conventional coding regions but also the flanking sequences, introns, and splice sites of the ABO gene to facilitate precise blood transfusion.

OBJECTIVE: To report the blood group antigen and antibody specificity identification methods for a patient with high-frequency antibodies, and the process of finding and providing compatible blood for the patient. METHODS: A patient sent from the Blood Transfusion Department of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital to Blood Transfusion Technology Research Laboratory of Taiyuan Blood Center in November 2022 was selected for the study. Classical serological methods were used to determine the patient's blood type, screen for unexpected antibodies, identify antibodies, and perform crossmatching. High-frequency antibody identification was carried out using red blood cells treated with various enzymes. Blood group genotyping was conducted using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and Sanger sequencing. Multiple strategies were employed to address the patient's blood source problem. The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Taiyuan Blood Center [Ethics No. 2024 Ethics Review No.(2)]. RESULTS: The patient's blood type was B, RhD positive. Initial screening of the patient's serum with multiple screening cells and antibody identification cells in saline medium was negative, but positive in antiglobulin medium. The patient's serum showed varying reaction intensities with red blood cells treated with different enzymes. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and Sanger sequencing revealed a homozygous nonsense variant c.376C>T (p.Gln126Ter) in the ABCG2 gene, resulting in the Jr(a-) phenotype. During family donor selection, the patient's son was found to have a heterozygous variant c.376C>T (p.Gln126Ter), and another heterozygous variant c.421C>A (p.Gln141Lys), which predicted a Jr(a+w) phenotype. Crossmatch tests confirmed the compatibility of blood from the patient's son, which was used to address the urgent blood requirement. Later, rare blood from a Jr(a-) donor from the Guangzhou Blood Center was used for the patient's ongoing treatment, saving the patient's life. CONCLUSION Combining classic serological testing with blood group gene typing techniques successfully identified the rare Jr(a-) blood type and high-frequency anti-Jra antibodies. Enzyme-treated red blood cell identification methods confirmed the presence of anti-Jra antibodies. By searching within the family and seeking help from other blood centers, compatible blood was found. This approach may provide insights for resolving similar complex blood matching problems in the future.
Humans ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching/methods* ; Blood Group Antigens/immunology* ; Blood Transfusion ; Male ; Isoantibodies/blood* ; Female ; Genotype

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regulatory mechanisms underlying the weak expression of ABO blood group antigens due to variants in the non-coding regions of the ABO gene. METHODS: From June 2014 to October 2023, a total of 29 samples from the Taiyuan Blood Center and local hospitals, which were serologically identified as having weak ABO antigen expression without detectable coding region mutations, were selected for this study. Full-length ABO gene sequencing was performed using third-generation long-read sequencing technology (Pacific Biosciences) to obtain complete haplotype sequences of the ABO gene. Variants in the non-coding regions were compared and identified to infer their regulatory effects on weak antigen expression. The procedures followed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision). The Medical Ethics Committee of Taiyuan Blood Center has granted an exemption from ethical review. RESULTS: 18 bp deletions in the -35 to -18 region of the promoter were identified in 7 samples. Variants in intron 1 (+5.8 kb) were detected in 7 samples, including ABO*A (28+5792_5793delCT (1 case) and ABO*B (28+5793T>C) located in the GATA binding region; ABO*B (28+5808C>T) (1 case) in the E-box region; and ABO*B (28+5875C>T) (4 cases) in the RUNX1 binding region. Nucleotide variants at splice sites were detected in 2 samples, namely ABO*B (C.98+1G>A) and ABO*B (C.204-2A>C). CONCLUSION Variants in the non-coding regulatory sequences of the ABO gene are a significant factor contributing to weak ABO antigen expression. In clinical ABO sequencing, it is essential to screen not only the conventional coding regions but also the flanking sequences, introns, and splice sites of the ABO gene to facilitate precise blood transfusion.
ABO Blood-Group System/genetics* ; Humans ; Alleles ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Haplotypes ; Introns

Crown lengthening is one of the common periodontal surgeries for the purposes of function,aesthetic and periodontal health.In recent years,with the continuous development of minimally invasive concept,flapless crown lengthening surgery has been re-ceiving increasing attention in clinical practice.With the help of laser,piezosurgery and other tools,flapless crown lengthening surgery is used to remove alveolar bone through gingival sulcus without open-flap approach and suture.This minimally invasive flapless ap-proach can avoid direct exposure of alveolar bone,and has the advantages of less bleeding,less trauma,fast healing,simple operation and high patients'comfort.The review demonstrates surgical methods,indication selection and clinical application results of flapless crown lengthening,aiming at providing reference for clinicians to carry out this novel technique.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture,the clinical efficacy,systemic inflammatory response,blood-brain barrier and intestinal flora in patients with cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke(IS)were studied.Methods Thirty patients(3 cases shedding)with cognitive impairment after IS were included as the disease group,including patients before treatment as the disease group,patients after Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture treatment as the electroacupuncture group,and 30 healthy controls(3 cases shedding)were included as the healthy group.In the electroacupuncture group,on the basis of the basic treatment,Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture was applied,which was 30 min each time,once a day for 14 days.The MMSE,MoCA and MBI scores of the three groups were observed.The fecal and serum samples from all study subjects were collected,and 16S rDNA sequencing technology and ELISA were used to detect the changes of proinflammatory factors IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α and S100β in serum in intestinal flora and feces.Results Compared with the healthy group,the MMSE,MoCA,and MBI score of patients in the disease group decreased significantly(P<0.05),serum proinflammatory factors and S100β protein content increased significantly(P<0.05),and the Shannon index(P<0.01)and Simpson index(P<0.001)increased significantly.Compared with the disease group,the MMSE,MoCA,and MBI score of the EA group increased significantly(P<0.05),the serum levels of proinflammatory factors and S100β decreased significantly(P<0.05),Shannon index and Simpson index decreased(P>0.05).The dominant bacterial flora in the healthy group mainly included Bacteroides,Bifidobacterium,Bacteroides,Faecalibacterium,Bifidobacteriaceae,Ruminococcaceae,and Bacteroides and other beneficial bacteria(P<0.05).The dominant flora in the disease group included Proteobacteria,Enterobacteriaceae,Escherichia,Klebsiella and other opportunistic bacteria(P<0.05),while the dominant flora in the EA group was consistent with the healthy group,the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria increased significantly(P<0.05),and the relative abundance of opportunistic bacteria decreased significantly(P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis found that beneficial bacteria were positively correlated with clinical efficacy related indicators,but with serum proinflammatory factors and the content of S100β was negatively correlated.Conclusion Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture can regulate the diversity of intestinal flora to increase the abundance of Bacteroides,Bifidobacterium,Faecalibacterium,and other beneficial bacteria,regulate the intestinal microecological balance,Thereby regulating systemic inflammation and blood-brain barrier function,which plays a role in improving cognitive function.

Crown lengthening is one of the common periodontal surgeries for the purposes of function,aesthetic and periodontal health.In recent years,with the continuous development of minimally invasive concept,flapless crown lengthening surgery has been re-ceiving increasing attention in clinical practice.With the help of laser,piezosurgery and other tools,flapless crown lengthening surgery is used to remove alveolar bone through gingival sulcus without open-flap approach and suture.This minimally invasive flapless ap-proach can avoid direct exposure of alveolar bone,and has the advantages of less bleeding,less trauma,fast healing,simple operation and high patients'comfort.The review demonstrates surgical methods,indication selection and clinical application results of flapless crown lengthening,aiming at providing reference for clinicians to carry out this novel technique.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture,the clinical efficacy,systemic inflammatory response,blood-brain barrier and intestinal flora in patients with cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke(IS)were studied.Methods Thirty patients(3 cases shedding)with cognitive impairment after IS were included as the disease group,including patients before treatment as the disease group,patients after Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture treatment as the electroacupuncture group,and 30 healthy controls(3 cases shedding)were included as the healthy group.In the electroacupuncture group,on the basis of the basic treatment,Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture was applied,which was 30 min each time,once a day for 14 days.The MMSE,MoCA and MBI scores of the three groups were observed.The fecal and serum samples from all study subjects were collected,and 16S rDNA sequencing technology and ELISA were used to detect the changes of proinflammatory factors IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α and S100β in serum in intestinal flora and feces.Results Compared with the healthy group,the MMSE,MoCA,and MBI score of patients in the disease group decreased significantly(P<0.05),serum proinflammatory factors and S100β protein content increased significantly(P<0.05),and the Shannon index(P<0.01)and Simpson index(P<0.001)increased significantly.Compared with the disease group,the MMSE,MoCA,and MBI score of the EA group increased significantly(P<0.05),the serum levels of proinflammatory factors and S100β decreased significantly(P<0.05),Shannon index and Simpson index decreased(P>0.05).The dominant bacterial flora in the healthy group mainly included Bacteroides,Bifidobacterium,Bacteroides,Faecalibacterium,Bifidobacteriaceae,Ruminococcaceae,and Bacteroides and other beneficial bacteria(P<0.05).The dominant flora in the disease group included Proteobacteria,Enterobacteriaceae,Escherichia,Klebsiella and other opportunistic bacteria(P<0.05),while the dominant flora in the EA group was consistent with the healthy group,the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria increased significantly(P<0.05),and the relative abundance of opportunistic bacteria decreased significantly(P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis found that beneficial bacteria were positively correlated with clinical efficacy related indicators,but with serum proinflammatory factors and the content of S100β was negatively correlated.Conclusion Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture can regulate the diversity of intestinal flora to increase the abundance of Bacteroides,Bifidobacterium,Faecalibacterium,and other beneficial bacteria,regulate the intestinal microecological balance,Thereby regulating systemic inflammation and blood-brain barrier function,which plays a role in improving cognitive function.

Objective:To report the blood group antigen and antibody specificity identification methods for a patient with high-frequency antibodies, and the process of finding and providing compatible blood for the patient.Methods:A patient sent from the Blood Transfusion Department of Shanxi Provincial People′s Hospital to Taiyuan Blood Center in November 2022 was selected for the study. Classical serological methods were used to determine the patient′s blood type, screen for unexpected antibodies, identify antibodies, and perform crossmatching. High-frequency antibody identification was carried out using red blood cells treated with various enzymes. Blood group genotyping was conducted using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and Sanger sequencing. Multiple strategies were employed to address the patient′s blood source problem. The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Taiyuan Blood Center [Ethics No. 2024 Ethics Review No.(2)].Results:①The patient′s blood type was B, RhD positive. Initial screening of the patient′s serum with multiple screening cells and antibody identification cells in saline medium was negative, but positive in antiglobulin medium. The patient′s serum showed varying reaction intensities with red blood cells treated with different enzymes. ②MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and Sanger sequencing revealed a homozygous nonsense variant c. 376C>T (p.Gln126Ter) in the ABCG2 gene, resulting in the Jr(a-) phenotype. During family donor selection, the patient′s son was found to have a heterozygous variant c. 376C>T (p.Gln126Ter), and another heterozygous variant c. 421C>A (p.Gln141Lys), which predicted a Jr(a+ w) phenotype. ③Crossmatch tests confirmed the compatibility of blood from the patient′s son, which was used to address the urgent blood requirement. Later, rare blood from a Jr(a-) donor from the Guangzhou Blood Center was used for the patient′s ongoing treatment, saving the patient′s life. Conclusion:Combining classic serological testing with blood group gene typing techniques successfully identified the rare Jr(a-) blood type and high-frequency anti-Jra antibodies. Enzyme-treated red blood cell identification methods confirmed the presence of anti-Jra antibodies. By searching within the family and seeking help from other blood centers, compatible blood was found. This approach may provide insights for resolving similar complex blood matching problems in the future.