OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with sepsis, identify the key factors affecting their clinical outcomes, construct a death risk assessment scale for elderly patients with sepsis, and evaluate its predictive value. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinical data of sepsis patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from September 2021 to September 2023 were collected, including basic information, clinical characteristics, and clinical outcomes. The patients were divided into non-elderly group (age ≥ 65 years old) and elderly group (age < 65 years old) based on age. Additionally, the elderly patients were divided into survival group and death group based on their 30-day survival status. The clinical characteristics of elderly patients with sepsis were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to screen the independent risk factors for 30-day death in elderly patients with sepsis, and the regression equation was constructed. The regression equation was simplified, and the death risk assessment scale was established. The predictive value of different scores for the prognosis of elderly patients with sepsis was compared. RESULTS: (1) A total of 833 patients with sepsis were finally enrolled, including 485 in the elderly group and 348 in the non-elderly group. Compared with the non-elderly group, the elderly group showed significantly lower counts of lymphocyte, T cell, CD8⁺ T cell, and the ratio of T cells and CD8⁺ T cells [lymphocyte count (×10⁹/L): 0.71 (0.43, 1.06) vs. 0.83 (0.53, 1.26), T cell count (cells/μL): 394.0 (216.0, 648.0) vs. 490.5 (270.5, 793.0), CD8⁺ T cell count (cells/μL): 126.0 (62.0, 223.5) vs. 180.0 (101.0, 312.0), T cell ratio: 0.60 (0.48, 0.70) vs. 0.64 (0.51, 0.75), CD8⁺ T cell ratio: 0.19 (0.13, 0.28) vs. 0.24 (0.16, 0.34), all P < 0.01], higher natural killer cell (NK cell) count, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, ratio of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) during hospitalization, and 30-day mortality [NK cell count (cells/μL): 112.0 (61.0, 187.5) vs. 95.0 (53.0, 151.0), APACHE II score: 16.00 (12.00, 21.00) vs. 13.00 (8.00, 17.00), IMV ratio: 40.6% (197/485) vs. 31.9% (111/348), 30-day mortality: 28.9% (140/485) vs. 19.5% (68/348), all P < 0.05], and longer length of ICU stay [days: 5.5 (3.0, 10.0) vs. 5.0 (3.0, 8.0), P < 0.05]. There were no statistically significant differences in the levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) between the two groups. (2) In 485 elderly patients with sepsis, 345 survived in 30 days, and 140 died with the 30-day mortality of 28.9%. Compared with the survival group, the patients in the death group were older, and had lower body mass index (BMI), white blood cell count (WBC), PCT, platelet count (PLT) and higher IL-6, IL-10, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), total bilirubin (TBil), blood lactic acid (Lac), and ratio of in-hospital IMV and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that BMI [odds ratio (OR) = 0.783, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.678-0.905, P = 0.001], IL-6 (OR = 1.073, 95%CI was 1.004-1.146, P = 0.036), TBil (OR = 1.009, 95%CI was 1.000-1.018, P = 0.045), Lac (OR = 1.211, 95%CI was 1.072-1.367, P = 0.002), and IMV during hospitalization (OR = 6.181, 95%CI was 2.214-17.256, P = 0.001) were independent risk factors for 30-day death in elderly patients with sepsis, and the regression equation was constructed (Logit P = 1.012-0.244×BMI+0.070×IL-6+0.009×TBil+0.190×Lac+1.822×IMV). The regression equation was simplified to construct a death risk assessment scale, namely BITLI score. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of BITLI score for predicting death risk was 0.852 (95%CI was 0.769-0.935), and it was higher than APACHE II score (AUC = 0.714, 95%CI was 0.623-0.805) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (AUC = 0.685, 95%CI was 0.578-0.793). The determined cut-off value of BITLI score was 1.50, while achieving a sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 74.0%. CONCLUSIONS Elderly patients with sepsis often have reduced lymphocyte counts, severe conditions, and poor prognosis. BMI, IL-6, TBil, Lac, and IMV during hospitalization were independent risk factors for 30-day death in elderly patients with sepsis. The BITLI score constructed based above risk factors is more precise and reliable than traditional APACHE II and SOFA scores in predicting the outcomes of elderly patients with sepsis.
Humans ; Sepsis/mortality* ; Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Case-Control Studies ; Prognosis ; Male ; Female ; Intensive Care Units ; Risk Factors ; Aged, 80 and over ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged

The preferred treatment for adrenal functional tumors is laparoscopic surgical resection. However, in recent years, various ablation techniques have gradually been applied in the treatment of adrenal tumors. This report presents the successful diagnosis and treatment experience of 4 aldosterone-producing adenomas and 1 cortisol-secreting adenoma treated with a combined cold and hot ablation system at Xi’an Daxing Hospital from Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024, providing a new treatment approach for clinical exploration.

The preferred treatment for adrenal functional tumors is laparoscopic surgical resection. However, in recent years, various ablation techniques have gradually been applied in the treatment of adrenal tumors. This report presents the successful diagnosis and treatment experience of 4 aldosterone-producing adenomas and 1 cortisol-secreting adenoma treated with a combined cold and hot ablation system at Xi’an Daxing Hospital from Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024, providing a new treatment approach for clinical exploration.

Ameloblastoma is a benign tumor characterized by locally invasive phenotypes,leading to facial bone destruction and a high recurrence rate.However,the mechanisms governing tumor initiation and recurrence are poorly understood.Here,we uncovered cellular landscapes and mechanisms that underlie tumor recurrence in ameloblastoma at single-cell resolution.Our results revealed that ameloblastoma exhibits five tumor subpopulations varying with respect to immune response(IR),bone remodeling(BR),tooth development(TD),epithelial development(ED),and cell cycle(CC)signatures.Of note,we found that CC ameloblastoma cells were endowed with stemness and contributed to tumor recurrence,which was dominated by the EZH2-mediated program.Targeting EZH2 effectively eliminated CC ameloblastoma cells and inhibited tumor growth in ameloblastoma patient-derived organoids.These data described the tumor subpopulation and clarified the identity,function,and regulatory mechanism of CC ameloblastoma cells,providing a potential therapeutic target for ameloblastoma.

Critical ultrasonography(CUS) is different from the traditional diagnostic ultrasound,the examiner and interpreter of the image are critical care medicine physicians.The core content of CUS is to evaluate the pathophysiological changes of organs and systems and etiology changes.With the idea of critical care medicine as the soul,it can integrate the above information and clinical information,bedside real-time diagnosis and titration treatment,and evaluate the therapeutic effect so as to improve the outcome.CUS is a traditional technique which is applied as a new application method.The consensus of experts on critical ultrasonography in China released in 2016 put forward consensus suggestions on the concept,implementation and application of CUS.It should be further emphasized that the accurate and objective assessment and implementation of CUS requires the standardization of ultrasound image acquisition and the need to establish a CUS procedure.At the same time,the standardized training for CUS accepted by critical care medicine physicians requires the application of technical specifications,and the establishment of technical specifications is the basis for the quality control and continuous improvement of CUS.Chinese Critical Ultrasound Study Group and Critical Hemodynamic Therapy Collabration Group,based on the rich experience of clinical practice in critical care and research,combined with the essence of CUS,to learn the traditional ultrasonic essence,established the clinical application technical specifications of CUS,including in five parts:basic view and relevant indicators to obtain in CUS;basic norms for viscera organ assessment and special assessment;standardized processes and systematic inspection programs;examples of CUS applications;CUS training and the application of qualification certification.The establishment of applied technology standard is helpful for standardized training and clinical correct implementation.It is helpful for clinical evaluation and correct guidance treatment,and is also helpful for quality control and continuous improvement of CUS application.

Objective To study the value of breast vascularity in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions. Methods The data of 37 patients with benign and malignant breast lesions in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from February 2017 to November 2017 were respectively analyzed. The number, diameter, length and breast-feeding arteries of bilateral breast vessel were recorded in the maximal intensity projection (MIP) of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and were scored according to Sardanellie. The patients were divided into the benign group and the malignant group according to the pathological results. Besides, ≥2 cm group and <2 cm group was also divided according to the maximum diameter of lesions. The differences in number and score of vascularity in both groups were compared. And the diagnostic efficacy of MRI was evaluated based on Sardanellie score and breast-feeding arteries. Results There were no significant differences in the number and score of vascularity between bilateral breast in benign breast lesions group (1.11 ±0.35 vs. 1.22 ±0.45, t= 0.19, P= 0.85; 0.89 ±0.38 vs. 0.95 ±0.21, t= 0.25, P=0.80). The number and score of vascularity of the affected side were higher than those of the healthy side in breast malignant lesions group (2.61 ±1.29 vs. 0.61 ±0.21, t= 6.18, P= 0.00; 1.78 ±0.65 vs. 0.61 ±0.21, t=6.30, P=0.00 respectively). The number and score of vascularity were statistically different between benign and malignant breast lesions (t= 8.57, P< 0.001; t= 12.61, P< 0.001). The number of vascularity in the malignant group was higher than that in the benign group with the maximum diameter of lesion<2 cm (1.27 ± 0.59 vs. 2.57±0.98, t=90.5, P< 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the scores of vascularity in the malignant group and the benign group (1.09 ±0.43 vs. 1.86 ±0.38, t= 87.0, P> 0.05); The number and score of vascularity in the malignant group were higher than those in the benign group with the maximum diameter ≥2 cm (0.92±0.63 vs. 2.64±1.50, t=47.5, P<0.05; 0.92±0.33 vs. 1.73±0.79, t=53.5, P< 0.05). There was no significant improvement in the diagnostic efficacy of MRI based on the score of vascularity and positive breast-feeding arteries in the identification of benign and malignant lesions when the maximum diameter of lesions were<2 cm, and it had a high diagnostic efficacy when the maximum diameter of lesions were ≥2 cm. Conclusions The vascularity of breast can be clearly seen by using breast dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI. The increase and score of vascularity in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions have a certain application value. The positive of breast-feeding arteries may increase the diagnostic efficiency of MRI.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of CD59 gene inhibition mediated by RNA interference on the proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) GLC-P cells in vitro.

METHODSRecombinant plasmids for RNA interference of CD59 gene were constructed and transfected into GLC-P cells via lipofectamine 2000. The stably transfected cells were examined with real-time RT-PCR, MTT assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to investigate the changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis.

RESULTSCompared with the control cells, the cells transfected with CD59-siRNA showed significantly decreased expression levels of CD59 mRNA (P<0.05) and significantly inhibited cell proliferation.

CONCLUSIONCD59 gene is highly expressed in NSCLC and RNA interference-mediated CD59 silencing can strongly inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in GLC-P cells, which shed light on a potentially new target for targeted gene therapy of NSCLC.

Apoptosis ; CD59 Antigens ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transfection

Objective To investigate the effect of CD59 gene inhibition mediated by RNA interference on the proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) GLC-P cells in vitro. Methods Recombinant plasmids for RNA interference of CD59 gene were constructed and transfected into GLC-P cells via lipofectamine 2000. The stably transfected cells were examined with real-time RT-PCR, MTT assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to investigate the changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Results Compared with the control cells, the cells transfected with CD59-siRNA showed significantly decreased expression levels of CD59 mRNA (P<0.05) and significantly inhibited cell proliferation. Conclusions CD59 gene is highly expressed in NSCLC and RNA interference-mediated CD59 silencing can strongly inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in GLC-P cells, which shed light on a potentially new target for targeted gene therapy of NSCLC.

Objective To investigate the effect of CD59 gene inhibition mediated by RNA interference on the proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) GLC-P cells in vitro. Methods Recombinant plasmids for RNA interference of CD59 gene were constructed and transfected into GLC-P cells via lipofectamine 2000. The stably transfected cells were examined with real-time RT-PCR, MTT assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to investigate the changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Results Compared with the control cells, the cells transfected with CD59-siRNA showed significantly decreased expression levels of CD59 mRNA (P<0.05) and significantly inhibited cell proliferation. Conclusions CD59 gene is highly expressed in NSCLC and RNA interference-mediated CD59 silencing can strongly inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in GLC-P cells, which shed light on a potentially new target for targeted gene therapy of NSCLC.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the presence of miRNA-144 in the saliva of patients with esophageal cancer and its value for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer.

METHODSSaliva samples were collected form patients with esophageal cancer admitted in the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College between January, 2011 and May, 2013, with saliva samples from 50 middle-aged healthy volunteers matched for age and gender ratio as the control group. The contents of miRNA-144 in the samples were detected with RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe levels of miRNA-144 in both the whole saliva and saliva supernatant were significantly higher in esophageal cancer group than in the control group (P<0.05). In the whole saliva, the cut-off point of miRNA-144 was ≥100, with a sensitivity of 74.6% and a specificity of 92.0% for esophageal cancer diagnosis (Az=0.865); in saliva supernatant, the cut-off point was ≥20 with a sensitivity of 53.7% and a specificity of 94.0% (Az=0.754), suggesting a moderate diagnostic value of miRNA-144 in whole saliva and saliva supernatant.

CONCLUSIONmiRNA-144 is highly expressed in the saliva of patients with esophageal cancer and can be used as a genetic marker for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; Early Diagnosis ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Saliva ; chemistry ; Sensitivity and Specificity