Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of ginkgo acid(GA)on hepatic fibrosis in rats.Methods:CCl4 and TAA were used to construct rat liver fibrosis model,and GA or combined ferroptosis inhibitor(Fer-1)was given to intervene.The liver tissue and serum of rats were obtained and histopathologically evaluated by HE,Masson and Sirius red staining,respecively.The expression of HA,LN,Ⅳ-C and PC-Ⅲ in serum were detected by Elisa and the expression of GPX4 and FTH1 were detected by Western blot.Results:HE staining showed that,com-pared with TAA and CCl4 groups,the fibrosis level of GA group was significantly decreased.The results of Masoon and Sirius red staining showed that compared with TAA and CCl4 groups,the rate of collagen fibers in liver of GA group was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Elisa results showed that compared with TAA and CCl4 groups,the levels of HA,LN,Ⅳ-C and PC-Ⅲ in serum of rats in GA group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).After the intervention of GA com-bined with Fer-1,Western blot results showed that compared with TAA and CCl4 groups,the expression of GPX4 and FTH1 in liver of rats in GA group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with GA group,GPX4 and FTH1 levels in Fer group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05);The histopathological results showed that compared with GA group,the rate of liver collagen fibers in Fer group was significantly increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion:GA has anti-hepatic fi-brosis effect,which is associated with inducing ferroptosis.

Patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) often experience coagulation dysfunction. This article reports a case of a critical SFTS patient who developed secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and accompanied by significantly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT)(111.0 s). APTT mixing test, coagulation factor activity assays, and antiphospholipid antibodies testing excluded coagulation factor deficiencies and classic antiphospholipid syndrome. Combined with elevated endothelial injury markers, it was hypothesized that the prolonged APTT was related to endothelial injury. The patient was treated with dexamethasone, ruxolitinib, and plasma transfusion, the patient′s APTT returned to normal (34.6 s), platelets increased, and levels of ferritin, inflammatory cytokines, and vascular endothelial injury markers decreased. This case suggests that prolonged APTT in SFTS patients may be associated with HLH, cytokine storms, and endothelial injury. Glucocorticoid and Janus kinase inhibitor, by controlling inflammatory responses and reducing endothelial damage, may have potential therapeutic value in correcting coagulation abnormalities.

Objective:Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), caused by the novel bunyavirus, is an emerging infectious disease with a high fatality rate. Co-infections with bacteria or fungi can exacerbate the disease. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of co-infections in SFTS patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 143 SFTS patients admitted to Qilu Hospital of Shandong University and Juxian People’s Hospital from April 2021 to October 2024.Results:The result showed that 35.7% (51/143) of patients had co-infections, with 85.5% diagnosed within 48 hours of hospitalization. The co-infection group exhibited higher incidences of neurological and respiratory symptoms, lower median platelet counts, and significantly elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), and ferritin ( P<0.01). Pathogen analysis revealed a predominance of lower respiratory tract Aspergillus infections. Co-infected patients had higher rates of ICU admission (31.4% vs 5.4%), mechanical ventilation (43.1% vs 6.5%), longer hospital stays, higher costs, and lower survival rates (74.5% vs 90.2%). The score within 6 days of disease onset (including age, neutrophil percentage, aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and BUN) was a significant risk factor for co-infection. A predictive model combining CRP, BUN, and the composite score demonstrated superior performance (AUC=0.851). Conclusions:This study provides critical evidence for early diagnosis and identification of high-risk populations for co-infections in SFTS patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of ClearInfinity deep learning reconstruction algorithm on image quality and radiation dose of abdominal computed tomography angiography(CTA)at low kV and low contrast medium.Methods One hundred patients who underwent abdominal CTA were selected and randomly divided into group A and group B.Group A:tube voltage 70 kV,con-trast medium 30-35 mL,divided into A1 and A2 subgroups according to reconstruction algorithm,group A1 50%ClearInfinity,group A2 50%ClearView iterative algorithm;group B:tube voltage 100 kV,contrast medium 60-70 mL,50%ClearView.CT values and standard deviation(SD)values of region of interest(ROI)of abdominal aorta,proper hepatic artery,superior mesenteric artery,renal artery and common iliac artery were evaluated objectively,while signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)were calculated;subjective scores were evaluated by two physicians;radiation doses of groups A and B were analyzed.Results Volume CT dose index(CTDIvol),dose length product(DLP)and effective dose(ED)in group A were significantly lower than those in group B(P<0.05),subjective scores in group A1 and group B were higher than those in group A2(P<0.05),and there was no difference between group A1 and group B(P>0.05).Compared with group A1,SNR and CNR of all vessels in group A2 were significantly decreased.CT values of abdominal aorta and common iliac artery,CNR of common iliac artery and supe-rior mesenteric artery in group B were significantly increased,SNR of renal artery was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion ClearInfinity deep learning reconstruction algorithm combined with 70 kV scanning technology can obtain better abdom-inal CTA image quality,and effectively reduce the radiation dose and contrast medium of patients,which has high clinical application value.

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) is a rare exocrine tumor of the pancreas with distinct clinical and pathological features. In recent years, advancements in molecular biology techniques have led to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying PACC. Progress in imaging, endoscopic, and molecular diagnostic technologies has improved the early detection rate of PACC. The primary treatment modalities for PACC include surgical resection, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy; however, the therapeutic efficacy still requires further improvement. This article reviews the current research status of PACC, covering its epidemiology, pathological characteristics, molecular alterations, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies, and discusses the controversies and future directions in PACC research.

Objective:To investigate the differences in clinical outcomes of septic children with varying serum zinc levels,and to analyze the relationship between reduced serum zinc levels and organ dysfunction as well as 28-day mortality in septic children.Methods:This study conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from pediatric patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock in the Department of critical care medicine of the children's Hospital of Soochow University between January 2017 and December 2022.Clinical characteristics,organ dysfunction,and prognosis were compared between two groups:children with low serum zinc levels and those with normal zinc levels.Results:The serum zinc level of septic children within 24 hours of admission was 9.60(5.52,13.80)μmol/L,with 50.54%(94/186)of the children exhibiting low serum zinc levels(<10.07 μmol/L).Compared to the normal serum zinc group,the low serum zinc group had a significantly lower Pediatric Critical Illness Score(PCIS)[(78.71±9.35)vs.(85.12±8.51),P=0.005]and higher 28-day mortality(46.80%vs.14.13%,P<0.001).The low serum zinc group also had a higher proportion of invasive mechanical ventilation(64.89%vs.47.82%,P=0.019),renal replacement therapy(15.59%vs.3.26%,P=0.003),and use of vasoactive drugs(56.38%vs.30.43%,P<0.001).The rate of underlying conditions in the low serum zinc group was significantly higher than that in the normal serum zinc group(57.44%vs.36.95%,P=0.005).Additionally,the low serum zinc group had a higher incidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC),respiratory failure,acute kidney injury,shock,and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS)compared to the normal serum zinc group(P<0.05).Serum zinc levels had predictive value for 28-day mortality in septic children(AUC=0.813;95%CI:0.725～0.902;P<0.001).A serum zinc level of less than 6.950 μmol/L predicted the death of septic children with a sensitivity of 0.618 and a specificity of 0.902.Conclusion:Sepsis in children is commonly associated with low serum zinc levels,especially in those with underlying conditions such as hematologic and oncologic disorders.Sepsis patients hypozincemia with a higher incidence of DIC,respiratory failure,acute kidney injury,shock,and MODS.A serum zinc level below 6.95 μmol/L serves as a significant predictor of 28-day mortality in children with severe sepsis.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with significant long-term impacts, yet few interventions specifically target ACE exposure, especially in Asian populations. Anchor, Singapore's first home visitation programme, addresses maltreat-ment among preschool children. This study evaluated Anchor's impact on children's developmental and behavioural outcomes. METHOD: We conducted a prospective evaluation of children under 4 years assessed for maltreatment from November 2019 to July 2023. Developmental and behavioural progress was measured every 6 months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) and ASQ:Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE-2), and annually using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). RESULTS: The results of 125 children (mean age 20.0 months, 48% female) were analysed. The mean length of stay in programme was 21.2 (7.3) months. At baseline, 92 (73.6%) children were at risk of develop-mental delay and 25 (31.7%) children aged ≥18 months had behavioural concerns. The programme was associated with significant improvements in gross motor (P=0.002) and fine motor (P=0.001) domains of the ASQ-3 and internalising problem scale (P=0.001) of the CBCL. CONCLUSION Anchor effectively enhances develop-mental and behavioural outcomes for children exposed to maltreatment. Targeted early intervention through such programmes can mitigate adverse impacts, optimising developmental trajectories and potentially reducing the long-term clinical and economic burdens associated with ACEs.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Child Abuse/therapy* ; Child, Preschool ; Singapore ; House Calls ; Infant ; Prospective Studies ; Child Development ; Developmental Disabilities/epidemiology* ; Program Evaluation ; Child Behavior Disorders ; Child Behavior

AIM To explore the clinical effects of Qijing Buzhong Yishen Decoction on patients with diabetic nephropathy due to Spleen-Kidney Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis Obstructing Collaterals.METHODS One hundred and two patients were randomly assigned into control group(51 cases)for 3-month intervention of conventional treatment,and observation group(51 cases)for 3-month intervention of both Qijing Buzhong Yishen Decoction and conventional treatment.The changes in clinical effects,blood glucose indices(fasting blood glucose,2 h postprandial blood glucose,HbA1c,TIR),blood lipid indices(TC,TG,LDL-C),renal function indices(UACR,eGFR,24 h urinary albumin excretion rate,sustained urinary albumin excretion rate),inflammatory factors(IL-6,hs-CRP,TNF-α),TCM syndrome scores and incidence of adverse reactions were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher total effective rate than the control group(P＜0.05).After the treatment,the two groups displayed decreased fasting blood glucose,2 h postprandial blood glucose,HbA1c,UACR,24 h urinary albumin excretion rate,sustained urinary albumin excretion rate,inflammatory factors,TCM syndrome scores(P＜0.05),and increased TIR,eGFR(P＜0.05),especially for the observation group(P＜0.05).No serious adverse reactions were observable in the two groups.CONCLUSION For the patients with diabetic nephropathy due to Spleen-Kidney Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis Obstructing Collaterals,Qijing Buzhong Yishen Decoction can safely and effectively regulate the blood sugar levels,and improve renal functions.

Objective To explore the characteristic changes in white matter microstructure in Parkinson's disease(PD)patients via automated fiber quantification(AFQ)technology,providing a basis for the identification and diagnosis of PD,and to analyze the feasibility of combining the AFQ method with support vector machine(SVM)in the diagnosis of PD.Methods Forty patients with primary PD(PD group)and 20 healthy controls(HC)(HC group)were prospectively selected.The AFQ technology was applied for white matter fiber tract analysis.Statistical analyses were performed using FSL(v6.0)software and SPSS 27.0 software.Independent-sample t-tests were conducted for comparisons between groups in AFQ analysis.The AFQ method was used to analyze the relationship between diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)parameters and Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)scores.Results(1)The results of AFQ analysis revealed that compared with the HC group,the PD group exhibited significantly lower fractional anisotropy(FA)values in the right cingulum bundle,left cingulum bundle hippocampus,and left uncinate fasciculus,with no differences in the FA values of the remaining 17 fiber tracts.Moreover,PD group demonstrated higher mean diffusivity(MD)values in the left cingulum bundle,left cingulum bundle hippocampus,left inferior frontal occipital fasciculus,left inferior longitudinal fasciculus,left superior longitudinal fasciculus,and left uncinate fasciculus.These differences were statistically significant(P<0.05),while no significant differences were found in the MD values of the remaining 14 fiber tracts.Furthermore,the MD values of the left inferior frontal occipital fasciculus,and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus were negatively correlated with the MoCA scores.(2)The classification results of SVM showed that the best results were achieved when combining the differential nodes of FA and MD as classification features,with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.922,an accuracy of 84.81%,a sensitivity of 87.50%,and a specificity of 82.05%.Conclusion The DTI parameters in PD patients can serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosis.The AFQ methods provides an effective approach for detecting alterations white matter tract integrity,offering important insights for the identification and diagnosis of PD.The best results are achieved when combining the differential nodes of FA and MD as classification features.

Objective To investigate the effect of ClearInfinity deep learning reconstruction algorithm on image quality and radiation dose of abdominal computed tomography angiography(CTA)at low kV and low contrast medium.Methods One hundred patients who underwent abdominal CTA were selected and randomly divided into group A and group B.Group A:tube voltage 70 kV,con-trast medium 30-35 mL,divided into A1 and A2 subgroups according to reconstruction algorithm,group A1 50%ClearInfinity,group A2 50%ClearView iterative algorithm;group B:tube voltage 100 kV,contrast medium 60-70 mL,50%ClearView.CT values and standard deviation(SD)values of region of interest(ROI)of abdominal aorta,proper hepatic artery,superior mesenteric artery,renal artery and common iliac artery were evaluated objectively,while signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)were calculated;subjective scores were evaluated by two physicians;radiation doses of groups A and B were analyzed.Results Volume CT dose index(CTDIvol),dose length product(DLP)and effective dose(ED)in group A were significantly lower than those in group B(P<0.05),subjective scores in group A1 and group B were higher than those in group A2(P<0.05),and there was no difference between group A1 and group B(P>0.05).Compared with group A1,SNR and CNR of all vessels in group A2 were significantly decreased.CT values of abdominal aorta and common iliac artery,CNR of common iliac artery and supe-rior mesenteric artery in group B were significantly increased,SNR of renal artery was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion ClearInfinity deep learning reconstruction algorithm combined with 70 kV scanning technology can obtain better abdom-inal CTA image quality,and effectively reduce the radiation dose and contrast medium of patients,which has high clinical application value.