The aim of this study was to investigate the trend in testicular volume changes after orchiopexy in children with cryptorchidism. The clinical data of 854 children with cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy between January 2013 and December 2016 in Shenzhen Children's Hospital (Shenzhen, China) were retrospectively analyzed. The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 2.8 (2.5) years, and the duration of follow-up ranged from 1 year to 5 years. Ultrasonography was conducted preoperatively and postoperatively. The variables analyzed included age at the time of surgery, type of surgical procedure, laterality, preoperative testicular position, preoperative and postoperative testicular volumes, and the testicular volume ratio of them. The average testicular volumes preoperatively and at 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years postoperatively were 0.27 ml, 0.38 ml, 0.53 ml, 0.87 ml, and 1.00 ml, respectively ( P < 0.001). The corresponding testicular volume ratios were 0.67, 0.76, 0.80, 0.83, and 0.84 ( P < 0.001). The mean volume of the undescended testes was significantly smaller than the mean normative value ( P < 0.001, lower than the 10 th percentile). The postoperative testicular volumes in children with cryptorchidism were generally lower than those in healthy boys but were still greater than the 10 th percentile and exhibited an increasing trend. The older the child is at the time of surgery, the larger the gap in volume between the affected and normal testes. Although testicular volume tends to gradually increase after orchiopexy for cryptorchidism, it could not normalizes. Earlier surgery results in affected testicular volumes closer to those of healthy boys.
Humans ; Male ; Cryptorchidism/diagnostic imaging* ; Orchiopexy ; Child, Preschool ; Testis/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Organ Size ; Ultrasonography ; Infant ; Child ; Postoperative Period ; Follow-Up Studies

Objective:To preliminarily establish a sample clot warning model for coagulation screening tests using 5 machine learning methods.Methods:This cross-sectional study collected 7 401 routine screening test samples from Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from January 1st, 2015, to August 18th, 2024, including 4 786 clotted (positive) and 2 615 qualified (negative) samples for model development. The dataset was divided into Dataset 1 and Dataset 2 based on a reagent change for APTT in December 2018, with separate models developed for each. An additional 2 493 samples (October 31st to November 8th, 2024) were used to evaluate consistency between the model and manual assessment, while 23 200 samples (October 17th to December 31st, 2024) were used for assessing real-world predictive performance. Five machine learning algorithms were employed to develop the clot prediction model: logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), naive bayes (NB), and artificial neural network (ANN), with the ANN model constructed using two different hidden layer and neuron parameter settings. Model selection was based on AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1-score, PPV, and NPV, with the optimal model integrated into the LIS for validation.Results:Among the six models using 5 machine learning algorithms, XGBoost demonstrated the highest performance (AUC=0.961, sensitivity=0.945, F1-score=0.934) and robustness to reagent changes ( Z=-1.333, P=0.113). When deployed, the differences between the model's predictions and manual pre-judgment were statistically significant ( Z=-5.289 to 8.933, all P<0.01). The predictive efficacy indices AUC (95% CI), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the XGBoost model deployed in real-world operation of the LIS were 0.939 (0.918—0.960), 0.958, 0.921, and 0.921 respectively. Conclusion:In this study, a clot warning model for coagulation screening samples was established based on the XGBoost algorithm, and its prediction efficacy is good, providing a foundation for intelligent pre-analytical quality control for coagulation screening tests.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of cardiac color Doppler ultrasonography for left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH)complicated left heart failure(LHF).Methods:A total of 117 LVH patients complicated LHF admitted in Ningde City Hospital Affiliated to Ningde Normal College between January 2019 and January 2023(heart failure group)and 100 healthy people(control group)who underwent general physical examination in our hospital simultaneously were selected for the study.Left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left atrial diameter(LAD),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDd),early diastolic peak flow velocity/late diastolic peak flow velocity(E/A)were measured by cardiac color Doppler ultrasound in two groups.Receiver operating charac-teristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of cardiac color Doppler ultrasound indexes for LVH complicated LHF.In addition,the 117 patients with LVH and LHF were divided into mild group(n=54)and moderate to severe group(n=63)according to cardiac function class.Spearman correlation analysis was used to an-alyze the associationof cardiac color ultrasound parameters with cardiac function class.Results:Compared with par-ticipants in control group,those in heart failure group had significant lower LVEF[(47.88±4.75)％ vs.(69.81±5.64)％],and significant higher LAD[(44.03±4.88)mm vs.(27.56±2.76)mm vs.],LVEDd[(55.68±5.04)mm vs.(42.19±1.38)mm],E/A[(13.04±3.58)vs.(6.60±1.67)](P＜0.001 all).ROC analysis indicated that the area under the curve(AUC)of the combination of various parameters of cardiac ultrasound for diagnosing LVH with LHF was significantly higher than those of the single tests(Combined detection:AUC=0.901,95％CI 0.853～0.937 vs LVEF:AUC=0.644,95％CI 0.577～0.708,LAD:AUC=0.703,95％CI 0.637～0.763,LVEDd:AUC=0.633,95％CI 0.565～0.697,E/A:AUC=0.748,95％CI 0.685～0.804,Z=7.062,5.764,7.292,4.864,P＜0.001 all).Compared with patients in mild group,those in moderate to severe group had signifi-cant lower LVEF[(45.67±3.37)％ vs.(50.47±4.86)％],and significant higher LAD[(46.31±4.42)mm vs.(41.36±3.98)mm],LVEDd[(60.09±1.75)mm vs.(50.53±1.41)mm]and E/A[(13.99±2.96)vs.(11.93±3.92)](P＜0.01 all).Spearman correlation analysis indicated that LVEF was negatively correlated with cardiac function class(r=-0.474),while LAD(r=0.511),LVEDd(r=0.863),E/A(r=0.269)were positively corre-lated with cardiac function class(P＜0.01 all).Conclusion:Cardiac color Doppler ultrasound could better diagnose LVH complicated LHF,and also could effectively predict the cardiac function of patients with LVH and LHF.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the tumorigenic properties of MMTV-PyMT breast cancer transgenic mice at different ages(in weeks)and the changes in the composition of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.Methods Eight groups of 4,6,8,10,12,14,16 and 18 weeks of age MMTV-PyMT female mice(FVB mice as the background)and one group of 8 weeks of FVB female mice were prepared for routine blood testing,the pathological changes of the mammary gland and lung metastases were observed by histopathological sections,and the immune cells in blood,spleen,and tumor were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results MMTV-PyMT mice showed adenular ductal lesions at 4～6 weeks of age;the ductal portion expanded to the growth boundary at 8～9 weeks of age,and then gradually broke through the glandular boundary to form early breast cancer at 8～12 weeks of age,and advanced breast cancer at 10～14 weeks of age.At 12 weeks of age,metastases were visible in the lungs of some mice,and at 14 weeks of age,the number of metastases in the lungs increased significantly.As the age of the mice increased,the number of white blood cells,neutrophils,and platelets in their blood increased gradually,while the lymphocytes and erythrocytes showed a gradual downward trend.Flow cytometry showed that with the increase in age,the proportion of T cells in the spleen and tumor gradually decreased,the MDSCs in the blood,spleen,and tumor gradually increased,and the NK cells in the tumor also gradually increased.Conclusions This study analyzed routine blood tests,pathology,and immune cells in the tissues of MMTV-PyMT mouse models of different weeks of age,providing a novel perspective on the dynamic alterations of the tumor immune microenvironment during the malignant progression of breast cancer.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of cardiac color Doppler ultrasonography for left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH)complicated left heart failure(LHF).Methods:A total of 117 LVH patients complicated LHF admitted in Ningde City Hospital Affiliated to Ningde Normal College between January 2019 and January 2023(heart failure group)and 100 healthy people(control group)who underwent general physical examination in our hospital simultaneously were selected for the study.Left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left atrial diameter(LAD),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDd),early diastolic peak flow velocity/late diastolic peak flow velocity(E/A)were measured by cardiac color Doppler ultrasound in two groups.Receiver operating charac-teristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of cardiac color Doppler ultrasound indexes for LVH complicated LHF.In addition,the 117 patients with LVH and LHF were divided into mild group(n=54)and moderate to severe group(n=63)according to cardiac function class.Spearman correlation analysis was used to an-alyze the associationof cardiac color ultrasound parameters with cardiac function class.Results:Compared with par-ticipants in control group,those in heart failure group had significant lower LVEF[(47.88±4.75)％ vs.(69.81±5.64)％],and significant higher LAD[(44.03±4.88)mm vs.(27.56±2.76)mm vs.],LVEDd[(55.68±5.04)mm vs.(42.19±1.38)mm],E/A[(13.04±3.58)vs.(6.60±1.67)](P＜0.001 all).ROC analysis indicated that the area under the curve(AUC)of the combination of various parameters of cardiac ultrasound for diagnosing LVH with LHF was significantly higher than those of the single tests(Combined detection:AUC=0.901,95％CI 0.853～0.937 vs LVEF:AUC=0.644,95％CI 0.577～0.708,LAD:AUC=0.703,95％CI 0.637～0.763,LVEDd:AUC=0.633,95％CI 0.565～0.697,E/A:AUC=0.748,95％CI 0.685～0.804,Z=7.062,5.764,7.292,4.864,P＜0.001 all).Compared with patients in mild group,those in moderate to severe group had signifi-cant lower LVEF[(45.67±3.37)％ vs.(50.47±4.86)％],and significant higher LAD[(46.31±4.42)mm vs.(41.36±3.98)mm],LVEDd[(60.09±1.75)mm vs.(50.53±1.41)mm]and E/A[(13.99±2.96)vs.(11.93±3.92)](P＜0.01 all).Spearman correlation analysis indicated that LVEF was negatively correlated with cardiac function class(r=-0.474),while LAD(r=0.511),LVEDd(r=0.863),E/A(r=0.269)were positively corre-lated with cardiac function class(P＜0.01 all).Conclusion:Cardiac color Doppler ultrasound could better diagnose LVH complicated LHF,and also could effectively predict the cardiac function of patients with LVH and LHF.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the tumorigenic properties of MMTV-PyMT breast cancer transgenic mice at different ages(in weeks)and the changes in the composition of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.Methods Eight groups of 4,6,8,10,12,14,16 and 18 weeks of age MMTV-PyMT female mice(FVB mice as the background)and one group of 8 weeks of FVB female mice were prepared for routine blood testing,the pathological changes of the mammary gland and lung metastases were observed by histopathological sections,and the immune cells in blood,spleen,and tumor were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results MMTV-PyMT mice showed adenular ductal lesions at 4～6 weeks of age;the ductal portion expanded to the growth boundary at 8～9 weeks of age,and then gradually broke through the glandular boundary to form early breast cancer at 8～12 weeks of age,and advanced breast cancer at 10～14 weeks of age.At 12 weeks of age,metastases were visible in the lungs of some mice,and at 14 weeks of age,the number of metastases in the lungs increased significantly.As the age of the mice increased,the number of white blood cells,neutrophils,and platelets in their blood increased gradually,while the lymphocytes and erythrocytes showed a gradual downward trend.Flow cytometry showed that with the increase in age,the proportion of T cells in the spleen and tumor gradually decreased,the MDSCs in the blood,spleen,and tumor gradually increased,and the NK cells in the tumor also gradually increased.Conclusions This study analyzed routine blood tests,pathology,and immune cells in the tissues of MMTV-PyMT mouse models of different weeks of age,providing a novel perspective on the dynamic alterations of the tumor immune microenvironment during the malignant progression of breast cancer.

Objective:To preliminarily establish a sample clot warning model for coagulation screening tests using 5 machine learning methods.Methods:This cross-sectional study collected 7 401 routine screening test samples from Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from January 1st, 2015, to August 18th, 2024, including 4 786 clotted (positive) and 2 615 qualified (negative) samples for model development. The dataset was divided into Dataset 1 and Dataset 2 based on a reagent change for APTT in December 2018, with separate models developed for each. An additional 2 493 samples (October 31st to November 8th, 2024) were used to evaluate consistency between the model and manual assessment, while 23 200 samples (October 17th to December 31st, 2024) were used for assessing real-world predictive performance. Five machine learning algorithms were employed to develop the clot prediction model: logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), naive bayes (NB), and artificial neural network (ANN), with the ANN model constructed using two different hidden layer and neuron parameter settings. Model selection was based on AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1-score, PPV, and NPV, with the optimal model integrated into the LIS for validation.Results:Among the six models using 5 machine learning algorithms, XGBoost demonstrated the highest performance (AUC=0.961, sensitivity=0.945, F1-score=0.934) and robustness to reagent changes ( Z=-1.333, P=0.113). When deployed, the differences between the model's predictions and manual pre-judgment were statistically significant ( Z=-5.289 to 8.933, all P<0.01). The predictive efficacy indices AUC (95% CI), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the XGBoost model deployed in real-world operation of the LIS were 0.939 (0.918—0.960), 0.958, 0.921, and 0.921 respectively. Conclusion:In this study, a clot warning model for coagulation screening samples was established based on the XGBoost algorithm, and its prediction efficacy is good, providing a foundation for intelligent pre-analytical quality control for coagulation screening tests.

Objective:To study the correlation between miR-122 and early HBV infection and analyze its application value in early infection of voluntary blood donors.Methods:A total of 150 samples from voluntary blood donors in Fujian Blood Center from May 2021 to July 2022 were collected and divided into group N(normal group),group E(ELISA single positive group),and group D(both ELISA and nucleic acid positive group),and the general information of the three groups of blood donors was collected.Total RNA was extracted from the three groups of samples,and the expression level of miR-122 was detected by qRT-PCR.The expression differences of miR-122 among the three groups of samples were statistically analyzed,and the correlation between the expression level of miR-122 in group D and its HBV DNA copy number was analyzed.The miRNA database was used to predict the potential target genes of miRNA and perform bioinformatics analysis.Results:There was no statistical difference in gender,education level,and occupation distribution among the three groups,but the age distribution and number of blood donations among different groups were statistically significant.Compared with group N,the relative expression levels of miR-122 in the plasma of group E and group D were significantly downregulated(P＜0.05);the relative expression level of miR-122 in group D was more significantly downregulated than that in group E(P＜0.001).Pearson correlation analysis showed that the expression level of miR-122 in group D was negatively correlated with the HBV-DNA copy number(R2=-0.804,P＜0.01).Two potential target genes were screened using the miRNA database:ALDOA(aldolase A)and PKM(pyruvate kinase).GO analysis results showed that the potential target genes of miRNA mainly involved in biological processes including cell homeostasis and regulation of transcriptional processes.Conclusion:Downregulation of miR-122 expression is closely related to early HBV infection and replication activity.

Background: EGFR exon 20 insertions account for 1% to 10% of EGFR mutations in nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are known to confer resistance to traditional tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, the prognostic significance of these mutations in early-stage resected NSCLC remains unclear. This study assesses outcomes in patients with resected NSCLC harboring EGFR exon 20 insertions, comparing them to patients with common EGFR mutations and those with wild-type EGFR. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 3,235 patients who underwent resection for NSCLC at Tri-Service Hospital between 2008 and 2021. After excluding cases lacking EGFR testing, incomplete data, or advanced-stage disease, 44 patients with exon 20 insertions were matched to 602 patients with common EGFR mutations and 729 with wild-type EGFR. Clinical characteristics, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, with statistical comparisons performed using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify independent prognostic factors. Results: Patients with exon 20 insertions were younger and more frequently presented with stage IA disease. The 5-year DFS was 79% in the exon 20 insertion group, compared to 81% in the common mutation group and 83.9% in the wild-type group. The 5-year OS was 78.5% for exon 20, 91.9% for common mutations, and 91% for wild-type. While no significant differences in DFS or OS were observed between groups, the exon 20 insertion group had a higher incidence of secondary cancers. Multivariable analysis indicated that exon 20 insertion was independently associated with worse OS, but not with DFS. Conclusion EGFR exon 20 insertions do not significantly shorten DFS, but are associated with inferior OS in early-stage resected NSCLC. Given the limited treatment options, the role of adjuvant therapy warrants further investigation.

Background/Aims: Finite nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) therapy has been proposed as an alternative treatment strategy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but biomarkers for post-treatment monitoring are limited. We investigated whether measuring hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) after NA cessation may stratify the risk of subsequent clinical relapse (CR). Methods: This retrospective multicenter analysis enrolled adults with CHB who were prospectively monitored after discontinuing entecavir or tenofovir with negative HBeAg and undetectable HBV DNA at the end of treatment (EOT). Patients with cirrhosis or malignancy were excluded. CR was defined as serum alanine aminotransferase > two times the upper limit of normal with recurrent viremia. We applied time-dependent Cox proportional hazard models to clarify the association between HBcrAg levels and subsequent CR. Results: The cohort included 203 patients (median age, 49.8 years; 76.8% male; 60.6% entecavir) who had been treated for a median of 36.9 months (interquartile range [IQR], 36.5–40.1). During a median post-treatment follow-up of 31.7 months (IQR, 16.7–67.1), CR occurred in 104 patients with a 5-year cumulative incidence of 54.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47.1–62.4%). Time-varying HBcrAg level was a significant risk factor for subsequent CR (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.53 per log U/mL; 95% CI, 1.12–2.08) with adjustment for EOT HBsAg, EOT anti-HBe, EOT HBcrAg and time-varying HBsAg. During follow-up, HBcrAg <1,000 U/mL predicted a lower risk of CR (aHR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.21–0.81). Conclusions Dynamic measurement of HBcrAg after NA cessation is predictive of subsequent CR and may be useful to guide post-treatment monitoring.