Objective To develop a predictive model for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) following video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in lung cancer patients by integrating cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters and machine learning techniques. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer who underwent CPET and VATS at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital between October 2021 and July 2023. Patients were divided into a PPC group and a non-PPC group. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to select important features associated with PPC. Six machine learning algorithms were utilized to construct prediction models, including logistic regression, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, random forest, gradient boosting machine, and extreme gradient boosting. The optimal model was interpreted using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). Results A total of 325 patients were included, with an average age of 60.36 years, and 55.1% were male. Significant differences were observed between the PPC and non-PPC groups in age, diabetes, coronary heart disease, surgical approach, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FVC% predicted, peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2), anaerobic threshold (AT), and ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide slope (VE/VCO2 slope) (P<0.05). In the predictive model constructed by selecting 7 key features using LASSO regression, the random forest model demonstrated the best overall performance across various metrics, with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.930, an F1 score of 0.836, and a Brier score of 0.133 in the training set. It also exhibited good predictive ability and calibration in the test set. SHAP analysis ranked feature importance as follows: peak VO2, VE/VCO2 slope, age, FEV1, smoking history, diabetes, and surgical approach. Conclusion Integrating CPET parameters, the random forest model can effectively identify high-risk patients for PPC and has the potential for clinical application.

Objective To compare the clinical characteristics of pneumococcal meningitis in different age groups, and to provide a basis for early diagnosis of pneumococcal meningitis. Methods Cerebrospinal fluid and/or serum samples were collected from 1742 suspected cases of meningitis in Baoji, Shaanxi Province from August 2013 to July 2019. Streptococcus pneumoniae was detected by isolation culture and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Retrospective analysis of clinical manifestations, biochemical indicators and other information of laboratory confirmed cases was conducted by χ² test or Fisher's exact test. Results A total of 1742 samples of encephalitis or meningitis cases were detected, and 41 cases were confirmed as laboratory-confirmed Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Among them, there were 12 cases (29.27%) in the infant group, 14 cases (34.15%) in the child group, and 15 cases (36.59%) in the adult group. The proportion of the adults with headache was significantly higher than that of the infants (χ²=11.408，P＜0.017). The proportion of the adults with consciousness disorder, elevated white blood cells and elevated neutrophils were significantly higher than those in the infant and the child groups（Fisher's exact test, P＜0.017；χ² =6.428，P＜0.017；χ² =10.898，P＜0.017；χ² =6.421，P＜0.017；χ² =9.758，P＜0.017；χ² =7.744，P＜0.017). The proportion of the infants with cerebrospinal fluid turbidity was significantly higher than that of the children (Fisher's exact test，P＜0.017). The proportion of the infants with decreased white blood cells and reduced glucose in cerebrospinal fluid was significantly higher than that of the children group and the adult group（Fisher's exact test, P＜0.001；Fisher's exact test, P＜0.001；Fisher's exact test, P＜0.017; Fisher's exact test, P＜0.017). Conclusion Most adult patients with pneumococcal meningitis have headache and consciousness disorders, with significantly increased proportion of white blood cells and neutrophils. Infant patients tend to have cloudy appearance of cerebrospinal fluid, leukopenia in blood, and decreased glucose in cerebrospinal fluid.

Objective To explore the value of analysis on the incidence of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)based on disease diagnosis-related grouping(DRG),case mix index(CMI),and relative weight(RW).Methods All discharged cases,DRG and HAI status in a tertiary first-class general hospital from January 1 to December 31,2023 were analyzed retrospectively.Incidences of HAI in different departments were adjusted and compared by CMI.Incidences of HAI in different DRG groups were adjusted by RW.Results Among the 47 695 cases included in the analysis,757 were HAI cases,including 225 DRG groups.The department of critical care medicine had the highest incidence of HAI(11.98％).After CMI adjustment,departments with higher incidence of HAI were main-ly the department of respiratory and critical care medicine(3.96％),department of critical care medicine(3.04％),and department of neurology(2.85％),et al.DRG groups with the top five high incidence of HAI were AH11(tracheotomy and with ventilator support ≥96 hours or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation[ECMO],accompa-nied by major complications and comorbidity[MCC],50.00％),BC29(ventricular shunt and revision surgery,31.43％),BB21(craniotomy other than trauma,accompanied by MCC,27.56％),BB11(craniotomy of brain trauma,accompanied by MCC,26.32％),and GB1A(major surgery of esophagus,stomach,and duodenum,accompanied by major or moderate complications and comorbidity,16.00％).After RW adjustment,the DRG groups with the top five high incidence of HAI were ES21(respiratory system infection/inflammation,accompanied by MCC,5.89％),BR21(cerebral ischemic disease,accompanied by MCC,5.17％),FR11(heart failure,shock,accompanied by MCC,4.80％),BC29(4.57％)and AH11(3.57％).Conclusion Analyzing the incidence of HAI based on CMI and RW can help to identify key departments and disease groups for infection prevention and control,and provide reference for precise prevention and control of HAI in the new era.

Objective To investigate the serum diphtheria antibody levels in healthy people aged 1-59 years old in Shaanxi Province.Methods A stratified random sampling method was used to select healthy people aged 1-59 years old from 30 county-level disease surveillance sites in 10 cities of Shaanxi province from November to December 2017.Diphtheria IgG antibody was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and the positive rate(IgG≥0.01 IU/mL)and mean geometric concentration(GMC)of diphtheria IgG antibody were analyzed.Results A total of 6 439 subjects completed laboratory testing.The positive rate and GMC of diphtheria IgG antibody were 85.79%and 0.035(0.034-0.036)IU/mL,respectively.The GMC and the positive rate of diphtheria IgG antibody were higher in males than those in females(P＜0.01).The positive rate of diphtheria IgG antibody in different cities was 65.25%-98.23%,and the GMC was 0.021(0.018-0.024)IU/mL-0.046(0.037-0.055)IU/mL,the difference between the groups was statistically significant(P＜0.01).The GMC of the group with DCV immunization history,the group without DCV immunization history and the group with unknown DCV immunization history were 0.097(0.090-0.105),0.018(0.018-0.019)and 0.027(0.026-0.028)IU/mL,respectively,and the positive rates of diphtheria IgG antibody were 92.74%,80.18%and 85.44%,respectively.There were significant differences between the three groups(P＜0.01).Among the 9 age groups,the group with the lowest positive rate of diphtheria IgG antibody was the 40-49 age group(78.39%),and the highest was in the 1-2 age group(95.77%),which decreased with age(χ2=200.612,P＜0.01).It showed a downward trend with age(χ2=200.612,P＜0.01).The lowest GMC(IU/mL)was in the 40-49 age group[0.017(0.016-0.017)],and the highest was in the 7-9 age group[0.190(0.162-0.226)],showing a downward trend with increasing age(P＜0.01).After the whole course of vaccination,the positive rate of diphtheria IgG antibody and the interval between the last dose of vaccination showed a downward trend(P＜0.01).Conclusion The diphtheria immune barrier in whole population has been established in Shaanxi province,but the positive rate of diphtheria antibody and GMC in healthy people aged 1-59 years old show a downward trend with age.

Objective:To investigate the detection status of serological markers for hepatitis B virus (HBV) among Tibetan college students and their relationship with HBV- deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) load.Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out to retrospectively analyze data from 1 514 Tibetan college students who visited the Affiliated Hospital of Xizang Minzu University for consultations or health examinations between June 1, 2021 and June 1, 2022. The prevalence of HBV infection among these students was analyzed, the primary epidemiological patterns of HBV markers were identified, and their relationship with HBV-DNA load was determined.Results:The positive rate of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among the 1 514 Tibetan college students was 6.7% (101/1 514), while the positive rate for Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) was 42.2% (639/1 514). The primary serological pattern of HBV infection consisted of positive results for HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBcAb, which accounted for 48.5% of cases. This pattern showed significantly higher rates of HBV-DNA positivity and elevated viral load compared with other serological patterns ( χ2 = 8.70, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The HBV infection rate among Tibetan college students is 6.7%. The primary infection pattern is characterized by positive tests for HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBcAb, with an HBV-DNA positivity rate as high as 87.0% and elevated viral loads.

Decision making of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) for hospice care patients has been recognized as a complex and controversial issue that significantly impacted end-stage comfort and quality of life. This article reviewed the significance, status and influencing factors of decision making of ANH for hospice care patients. By analyzing the shortcomings of existing researches and clinical practices, it put forward the prospects for future research, so as to improve the decision-making dilemmas faced by hospice care patients.

Objective To explore the isolation and significance of Oligella in urine specimens,improve clinical awareness,and enhance the level of clinical diagnosis and treatment of the bacterium.Methods Clinical data of 3 patients from whom Oligella was detected in urine cultures in a hospital were retrospectively analyzed,and relevant literatures were retrieved from databases for review.Results Among these 3 cases in this hospital,one patient had asymptomatic bacteriuria and did not receive antimicrobial treatment,after receiving supportive treatments such as kidney protection and blood sugar control,the condition improved.Two cases were clinically diagnosed as infection and improved after treatment with phosphomycin and moxifloxacin,respectively.Three cases in this study and 85 cases in the literature review showed that 59 cases had asymptomatic bacteriuria,27 cases had urinary tract infec-tions,and 2 cases had symptoms of urinary incontinence(urinary tract infection was possible).Oligella urethralis was susceptible to most antimicrobial agents except fluoroquinolones.However,Oligella ureolytica exhibited un-certain antimicrobial susceptibility.Conclusion Oligella mainly exists in a colonized state in the urinary system and can also cause urinary tract infections,it can also be isolated from a small number of urinary incontinence patients,and its relationship with urinary incontinence needs further research.There are differences in antimicrobial suscepti-bility among different species of Oligella,clinical practice should correctly understand the significance of detecting this bacteria from urine specimens and use antimicrobial agents rationally.

IL-32 is a multifunctional cytokine with both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties.It has been proved that expression of IL-32 increases with progression of gastric mucosal diseases and severity of gastric cancer(GC),thus participating in process of gastric"inflammation-cancer"transformation.However,how IL-32 affects malignant transformation of gastric"inflamma-tion-cancer"and finally leads to adverse outcome of GC invasion and migration is still controversial.In order to better clarify regulatory effect and possible mechanism of abnormal expression of IL-32 on different histopathological stages of gastric"inflammation-cancer"transformation,and to explore new directions and breakthroughs in molecular mechanism of early truncation and treatment of gastric precancerous lesion(GPL),we searched literatures related to IL-32 in six authoritative databases at home and abroad,such as Pubmed,Web of Science and CNKI,in past 30 years.It was found that pathogenicity or protective function of IL-32 in different histo-pathological stages of gastric"inflammation-cancer"transformation depended on its different subtypes,secretory forms,surrounding cytokine environment,disease status and genetic factors.IL-32 may regulate polarization of macrophages through NF-κB,MAPK,COX2,PR3,IDO,NOD,PKCδ,FAK and STAT3,amplify or inhibit chronic inflammatory stimulation of gastric mucosa,and thus participate in process of gastric"inflammation-cancer"transformation.Our new understanding of role of IL-32 in different stages of Cor-rea cascade may contribute to development of cytokine-directed therapy,and therapy aimed at regulating different alternative splicing subtypes of IL-32 and targeting IL-32 signals can be used as a new strategy for medical treatment of GPL and GC in future.

Case report form(CRF)is an important tool to obtain clinical research data.Scientifically designed and properly recorded CRF is of great significance to improve the quality of clinical research.The author summarized the common problems existing in the design and recording of CRF in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)clinical studies,including:①Delayed design time point.②Unstandardized CRF design,recording and modification.③Imperfect records of combined medication/therapy.④Insufficient quantification of syndrome efficacy indicators and objectification of tongue and pulse.⑤ Insufficient protection of subjects' privacy.⑥ Unstandardized records of adverse events.Accordingly,this paper discusses some solutions to provide reference for other TCM researchers,including:①Advance CRF design time.②Standardize CRF design,recording and modification.③Design drug combinations/therapies according to Clinical Data Acquisition Standards Harmonization(CDASH).④Standardization of syndrome and tongue and pulse.⑤Use of subject identification codes to protect privacy.⑥AE records should vary from study to study.

To promote the high-quality development of healthcare in the highland areas and to enable traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)to make a more prominent contribution to the healthcare of the people in these areas,it is imperative to clarify the roles of TCM in the formation of the healthcare system in the past and present,as well as the direction of innovative development of TCM in the plateau in the future.To this end,this paper first systematically reviews the literature to summarize the influence of TCM on the cultural background,theoretical framework,and practical system of Tibetan medicine during its origin,development,and maturation;then,through the example of typical cases,it elaborates on the direct practical applications of TCM in the prevention and treatment of a series of highland diseases from the perspectives of pathogenesis,therapeutic principles,unique drugs,and techniques;finally,it deeply reflects on a series of problems restricting the integration,inheritance,and innovative development of TCM in the highland areas and puts forward targeted suggestions to enable TCM to serve and safeguard the health of people living in the plateaus better together with the local ethnic medicine.