Objective To compare the performance and efficacy of prognostic models constructed by different machine learning algorithms in predicting the survival period of lung transplantation (LTx) recipients. Methods Data from 483 recipients who underwent LTx were retrospectively collected. All recipients were divided into a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 7:3. The 24 collected variables were screened based on variable importance (VIMP). Prognostic models were constructed using random survival forest (RSF) and extreme gradient boosting tree (XGBoost). The performance of the models was evaluated using the integrated area under the curve (iAUC) and time-dependent area under the curve (tAUC). Results There were no significant statistical differences in the variables between the training set and the validation set. The top 15 variables ranked by VIMP were used for modeling and the length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) was determined as the most important factor. Compared with the XGBoost model, the RSF model demonstrated better performance in predicting the survival period of recipients (iAUC 0.773 vs. 0.723). The RSF model also showed better performance in predicting the 6-month survival period (tAUC _{6 months} 0.884 vs. 0.809, P = 0.009) and 1-year survival period (tAUC _{1 year} 0.896 vs. 0.825, P = 0.013) of recipients. Based on the prediction cut-off values of the two algorithms, LTx recipients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups. The survival analysis results of both models showed that the survival rate of recipients in the high-risk group was significantly lower than that in the low-risk group (P<0.001). Conclusions Compared with XGBoost, the machine learning prognostic model developed based on the RSF algorithm may preferably predict the survival period of LTx recipients.

Objective: To understand the incidence risk and risk factors of tuberculosis (TB) among middle school students in Chongqing, so as to provide a basis for formulating TB prevention and control strategies. Methods: From September to December 2022, 32 181 middle school students were selected as the study cohort from 15 administrative districts in Chongqing by using the stratified cluster random sampling method. All cohort members were screened with the tuberculin skin test (TST), and relevant information was collected from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024. On the basis of active screening, the follow up data of the participants were compared with the National Tuberculosis Management Information System to obtain the incidence status of the study subjects. The Log rank test was used to compare the TB incidence rates among students with different characteristics, and a Cox proportional hazards model was established to analyze the incidence risk and risk factors of TB. Results: The TST screening rate of the cohort members was 93.0%. During the 2 year follow up period, a total of 36 TB cases occurred, with a cumulative incidence rate of 111.87/100 000 and an incidence density of 55.95/100 000. Among them, the cumulative incidence rate of students from public schools (170.44/ 100 000 ) was higher than that of students from private schools (41.16/100 000), the cumulative incidence rate of students in schools located in high epidemic areas (153.95/100 000) was higher than that in medium epidemic areas (69.00/100 000), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=11.49, 4.73, both P <0.05). The Log-rank test for different TST results showed that the difference in TB comulative incidence rate between students with strongly positive TST results (216.55/ 100 000 ) and those with negative TST results (81.40/100 000) was statistically significant ( χ 2=5.85, P <0.05). Univariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the risk of TB was lower in students from private schools ( HR=0.25, 95% CI = 0.10-0.59) and students in medium epidemic areas ( HR=0.46, 95%CI =0.23-0.94); whereas the risk of TB was increased in students with strongly positive TST results ( HR=1.39, 95%CI =1.05-1.84) (all P <0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of TB in students from private schools was lower than that of students from public schools ( HR=0.23, 95%CI=0.08-0.62, P <0.05). Conclusions The annual average incidence rate of TB among middle school students in Chongqing is at a relatively high level. It is necessary to strengthen the management and intervention for student groups, including those in public schools, those in schools located in high epidemic areas, and those with strongly positive TST results, so as to reduce the incidence rate of TB.

Local anesthetics (LAs), such as articaine (AT), exhibit limited efficacy in inflammatory environments, which constitutes a significant limitation in their clinical application within oral medicine. In our prior research, we developed AT-17, which demonstrated effective properties in chronic inflammatory conditions and appears to function as a novel oral LA that could address this challenge. In the present study, we further elucidated the beneficial effects of AT-17 in acute inflammation, particularly in oral acute inflammation, where mitochondrial-related apoptosis played a crucial role. Our findings indicated that AT-17 effectively inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nerve cell apoptosis by ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro. This process involved the inhibition of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) production and the subsequent activation of the NRF2 pathway. Most notably, improvements in mitochondria-related apoptosis were key contributors to AT-17's inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channels. Additionally, AT-17 was shown to reduce mtROS production in nerve cells through the Na⁺/NCLX/ETC signaling axis. In conclusion, we have developed a novel local anesthetic that exhibits pronounced anesthetic functionality under inflammatory conditions by enhancing mitochondria-related apoptosis. This advancement holds considerable promise for future drug development and deepening our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of action.

Objective:To explore the application value of three-dimensional high-resolution anorectal manometry(3D-HRAM)model in the diagnosis and localization of anal sphincter injury after surgery for complex anal fistula.Methods:A prospective study was con-ducted on 92 patients who had undergone surgery for complex anal fistula in the Department of Coloproctology of The People's Hospi-tal Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2023 to January 2024.The study was conducted in two stages.In the first stage,92 patients underwent 3D-HRAM and endoanal ultrasonography(EAUS)to examine the sphincter,and the data were compared with intraoperative records to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency and localization accuracy of 3D-HRAM and EAUS.In the second stage,92 patients who had been examined were grouped according to the presence or absence of symptoms of anal dysfunction to further verify the diagnostic and localization values of 3D-HRAM and EAUS for postoperative compensated/decompen-sated sphincter injury.Results:Among 92 patients,41 and 57 patients were diagnosed with sphincter injury through 3D-HRAM and EAUS,with a sensitivity of 61.19%and 85.07%,a specificity of 88%and 76%,an area under the curve of 0.739 and 0.813 calcu-lated by plotting the receiver operating characteristic curve,and a localization accuracy of 44.77%and 71.64%,respectively,showing significant differences between 3D-HRAM and EAUS(P=0.002),indicating that 3D-HRAM had lower diagnostic efficiency and local-ization accuracy than EAUS for anal sphincter injury after surgery for complex anal fistula.After grouping by symptoms,the diagnostic efficiency and localization accuracy of 3D-HRAM for symptomatic sphincter injury(decompensated)were significantly better than those for asymptomatic sphincter injury,and were similar to those of EAUS(P=0.763).Conclusion:The application advantage of 3D-HRAM lies in the diagnosis and localization of decompensated anal sphincter injury after surgery for complex anal fistula,which provides effective technical support for the study of anal defecation control mechanisms and injury compensation mechanisms.

Objective To investigate the knowledge of tuberculin skin test(TST)among healthcare workers and provide evidence for improving the standardization of TST screening in primary healthcare staff.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 248 licensed physicians or nurses who were qualified as licensed physicians or nurses and responsible for TST work from 27 districts/counties of Chongqing in 2023.The awareness of TST-related knowledge and its influencing factors were statistically analyzed.Results The average TST knowledge score of 248 healthcare workers was(78.3±10.6)points.The overall awareness rate was 78.9%(8 213/10 416),with specific rates as follows:65.4%(1 135/1 736)for tubercu-losis knowledge,87.3%(3 248/3 720)for TST general knowledge,53.4%(795/1 488)for TST principles,88.0%(1 964/2 232)for TST procedures,and 86.4%(1 071/1 240)for TST result interpretation.Nurses showed higher awareness rates than physicians and other staff(P＞0.05).Healthcare workers from medium-epidemic areas demonstrated significantly higher awareness rates than those from high-and low-epidemic are-as(P＜0.001).No statistically significant differences were observed in gender,age,occupation type,institu-tion type,or regional epidemic level between the qualified group and non-qualified group about TST-related knowl-edge(P＞0.05).Conclusion Healthcare workers exhibit incomplete mastery of TST-related knowledge.Strengthening TST-related knowledge training for standardizing TST implementation.

Tetrandrine(TET),a natural bisbenzyl isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Stephania tetrandra S.Moore,has diverse pharmacological effects.However,its effects on melanoma remain unclear.Cellular prolif-eration assays,multi-omics analyses,and xenograft models were used to determine the effect of TET on melanoma.The direct target of TET was identified using biotin-TET pull-down liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry(LC-MS),cellular thermal shift assays,and isothermal titration calorimetry(ITC)analysis.Our findings revealed that TET treatment induced robust cellular autophagy depending on activating transcription factor 6(ATF6)-mediated endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress.Simultaneously,it hindered autophagic flux by inducing cytoskeletal protein depolymerization in melanoma cells.TET treatment resulted in excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and simultaneously triggered mitophagy.Sirtuin 5(SIRT5)was ultimately found to be a direct target of TET.Mechanistically,TET led to the degradation of SIRT5 via the ubiquitin(Ub)-26S proteasome system.SIRT5 knockdown induced ROS accumulation,whereas SIRT5 overexpression attenuated the TET-induced ROS accumula-tion and autophagy.Importantly,TET exhibited anti-cancer effects in xenograft models depending on SIRT5 expression.This study highlights the potential of TET as an antimelanoma agent that targets SIRT5.These findings provide a promising avenue for the use of TET in melanoma treatment and underscore its potential as a therapeutic candidate.

Macrophages play an important role in the development of inflammation,the core mechanism of athero-sclerosis.In recent years,nanotechnology has provided a new perspective for the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis with its unique characteristics of biological compatibility and precise targeting.In this paper,the patholog-ical mechanism of atherosclerosis,the realization of atherosclerosis imaging by targeting macrophages with nanomaterials and the application of macrophage cell membrane biomimetic nanoparticles in anti-atherosclerosis were reviewed.

BACKGROUND: The addition of growth factiors is commonly applied to improve the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. However, for human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), their complex differentiation processes result in the unknown effect at different stages. In this study, we focused on the widely used bone forming peptide-1 (BFP-1) and investigated the effect and mechanisms of its addition on the osteogenic induction of hPSCs as a function of the supplementation period. METHODS: Monolayer-cultured hPSCs were cultured in osteogenic induction medium for 28 days, and the effect of BFP-1 peptide addition at varying weeks was examined. After differentiation for varying days (0, 7, 14, 21 and 28), the differentiation efficiency was determined by RT–PCR, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and alizarin red staining assays. Moreover, the expression of marker genes related to germ layers and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was investigated at day 7. RESULTS: Peptide treatment during the first week promoted the generation of mesoderm cells and mesenchymal-like cells from hiPSCs. Then, the upregulated expression of osteogenesis marker genes/proteins was detected in both hESCs and hiPSCs during subsequent inductions with BFP-1 peptide treatment. Fortunately, further experimental design confirmed that treating the BFP-1 peptide during 7–21 days showed even better performance for hESCs but was ineffective for hiPSCs. CONCLUSION The differentiation efficiency of cells could be improved by determining the optimal treatment period.Our study has great value in maximizing the differentiation of hPSCs by adding osteogenesis peptides based on the revealed mechanisms and promoting the application of hPSCs in bone tissue regeneration.

Humans ; Cytomegalovirus ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Antigens, Viral ; Immunity ; Autoimmune Diseases ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes

Objective:To investigate the value of ultrasound and Ki-67 for early predicting pathological complete response (pCR) of triple negative breast cancer(TNBC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed in 190 patients with TNBC who underwent surgery after NAC treatment at the Cancer Hospital of Fudan University from January 2019 to December 2022. All patients underwent ultrasound examination before and after 2 and 4 cycles of NAC treatment. According to the operation pathological results after NAC, the patients were divided into pCR group and non-pCR group. The differences in ultrasound and Ki-67 parameters were compared between the pCR and non-pCR groups, and binary Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent predictors for pCR. The ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy.Results:Tumor maximum diameter, relative change rates of tumor maximum diameter after 2-cycle and 4-cycle NAC (ΔD2, ΔD4), relative change rate of lymph node short diameter after 2-cycle NAC (ΔS2), T-stage, N-stage and Ki-67 showed statistically significant differences between the pCR group and the non-pCR group (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that ΔD4, T-stage, N-stage and Ki-67 were independent predictors for pCR ( OR=1.029, P=0.011; OR=0.300, P=0.009; OR=0.653, P=0.048; OR=1.028, P=0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of pCR was 0.804 (95% CI=0.742-0.866), the sensitivity and specificity were 67.5% and 83.2% respectively. Conclusions:The combination parameters of ΔD4, T-stage, N-stage and Ki-67 have certain clinical value for predicting pCR of TNBC.