Objective To construct a dynamic prediction model for JC polyomavirus (JCV) reactivation after kidney transplantation. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 128 recipients who met the inclusion criteria and received kidney transplantation in Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, from June 2021 to December 2024. Dynamic Cox regression and dynamic restricted mean survival time (RMST) regression based on the landmark method were adopted to establish the dynamic prediction models, and Monte Carlo cross-validation was used to evaluate model performance. Results The dynamic models could predict the incidence and onset time of JCV reactivation within the subsequent 3 months according to covariates at each landmark time point from the 1st to the 6th month after transplantation. Remuzzi score, body mass index and warm ischemia time were independent risk factors for JCV reactivation, while a history of urinary BK polyomavirus reactivation served as a protective factor. The median values of the area under the curve, C-index and Brier score of the dynamic Cox model were 0.873, 0.851 and 0.065 respectively, and the C-index of the dynamic RMST model was 0.829, all of which were superior to those of the static model. Conclusions The landmark-based dynamic models exhibit excellent predictive performance, which may integrate baseline data and post-transplant follow-up information to realize dynamic assessment of the risk and time window of JCV reactivation, thereby providing evidence for optimizing post-operative monitoring and individualized intervention strategies.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective:To investigate the age-specific distribution characteristics of plantar pressure parameters in healthy children aged 3-12 years.Methods:This cross-sectional study retrieved data from the hospital information system in January 2025 for 272 children aged 3-12 years who underwent physical examinations and voluntarily completed plantar pressure analysis at Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University, from July 2022 to December 2024. Demographic and clinical data, including anthropometric measurements (height and weight), flatfoot diagnosis and plantar pressure parameters (maximum pressure, time to maximum force, and contact time percentage in bilateral forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot) were recorded. Participants were categorized into 3 age groups (3-6 years, 7-9 years, and 10-12 years) and were grouped by gender as well. Intergroup comparisons used one-way ANOVA or least-significant difference test or χ2 tests. Spearman′s rank correlation assessed the relationship between flatfoot prevalence and age. Results:Among 272 children (143 boys, 129 girls), age groups comprised 3-6 years (118 children, 64 boys and 54 girls), 7-9 years (96 children, 49 boys and 47 girls), and 10-12 years (58 children, 30 boys and 28 girls). Flatfoot prevalence was higher in boys than in that of girls (41.3% (59/143) vs. 28.7% (37/129), χ2=4.70, P=0.030), and negatively correlated with age ( r=-0.21, P<0.001). There all had statistically differences in the maximum pressure values of the bilateral forefoot and hindfoot among the 3 age groups (all P<0.001), and after pairwise comparison, those of the group of aged 3-6 years were all the lowest, and those of the group of aged 10-12 years were all the highest (all P<0.05). The maximum pressure values of bilateral midfoot in the group of aged 10-12 years were all higher than those of the other two groups (all P<0.001). There had no statistically differences in the time maximum force value of the bilateral forefoot among the 3 age groups (all P>0.05). The time maximum force values of bilateral midfoot in the group of aged 3-6 years were all lower than those of the other two groups (all P<0.05). There all had statistically differences in the time maximum force value of the bilateral hindfoot among the 3 age groups (all P<0.001), and after pairwise comparison, those of the group of aged 3-6 years were all the lowest, and those of the group of aged 10-12 years were all the highest (all P<0.05). There all had statistically differences in the contact time percentage values of the bilateral forefoot among the 3 age groups (all P<0.001), and after pairwise comparison, those of the group of aged 3-6 years were all the lowest, and those of the group of aged 10-12 years were all the highest (all P<0.05). There had no statistically differences in the contact time percentage values of the bilateral midfoot among the 3 age groups (all P>0.05). There all had statistically differences in the contact time percentage values of the bilateral hindfoot among the 3 age groups (all P<0.001), and after pairwise comparison, those of the group of aged 3-6 years were all lower than those of the other two groups (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Plantar pressure parameters exhibit distinct age-related patterns, reflecting the development of gait patterns and foot arch formation, which will be useful for monitoring physical growth and sports rehabilitation.

Radiotherapy is one of the primary treatment modalities for tumors. In recent years, advancements in radiotherapy technology have enabled radiation to reach target areas with greater precision. However, radiation damage to normal tissue remains unavoidable. Traditional normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models are widely used to predict such injuries, but they often fail to account for individual and tissue heterogeneity. As an emerging technology, radiomics can provide more comprehensive biological information and shows promise in predicting radiation-induced damage. This article reviews the application value of radiomics in predicting damage to organs at risk in the head and neck, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis.

Objective:To investigate the indications for prenatal diagnosis using copy number variation-sequencing (CNV-seq) and the abnormalities detected by the method.Methods:This retrospective analysis involved 17 994 singleton pregnant women who underwent prenatal CNV-seq at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2019 to December 2022. These cases were divided into five groups based on the following indications for CNV-seq: abnormal fetal ultrasound findings, high-risk results indicated by non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) or Down's syndrome serological screening (Down's screening), adverse pregnancy history, and advanced maternal age. The proportions of cases with the indications for prenatal CNV-seq, the detection rates of abnormalities (numerical abnormalities of chromosomes, pathogenic/likely pathogenic CNV in structural abnormalities) in the five groups, and the distribution of these abnormalities were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test. Results:Among the 17 994 pregnant women, the women with abnormal fetal ultrasound findings, high-risk NIPT results, high-risk Down's screening results, adverse pregnancy history, and advanced maternal age accounted for 32.65% (5 875/17 994), 11.90% (2 142/17 994), 31.62% (5 690/17 994), 11.70% (2 105/17 994), and 12.13% (2 182/17 994), respectively. The detection rates of abnormalities in the five groups were 10.60% (623/5 875), 34.64% (742/2 142), 4.69% (267/5 690), 2.99% (63/2 105), and 3.67% (80/2 182), respectively. The overall detection rate of abnormalities was 9.86% (1 775/17 994). The cases with numerical abnormalities of chromosomes accounted for 68.79% (1 221/1 775), trisomy 21 was predominant (49.30%, 602/1 221). Chromosomal structural abnormalities were detected in 31.21% (554/1 775) of the cases with abnormalities, with 57.76% (320/554) harboring pathogenic CNVs and 42.24% (234/554) harboring likely pathogenic CNVs. The detection rate of chromosomal numerical abnormalities was higher than that of structural abnormalities in the abnormal fetal ultrasound group, NIPT high-risk group, and advanced maternal age group [6.81% (400/5 875) vs. 3.80% (223/5 875), χ2=53.10; 27.96% (599/2 142) vs. 6.68% (143/2 142), χ2=338.40; 2.43% (53/2 182) vs. 1.24% (27/2 182), χ2=8.61; all P<0.01]. A total of 416 microdeletions and 255 microduplications were detected in the 554 cases. The top three regions with the highest frequencies in microdeletions were Xp22.31 (12.74%, 53/416), 22q11.21 (7.93%, 33/416), and 17q12 (5.77%, 24/416); in microduplications, they were 22q11.21 (14.90%, 38/255), 17q12 (3.53%, 9/255), and 7q11.23 (3.53%, 9/255). Conclusions:Abnormal fetal ultrasound findings accounted for the highest proportion of prenatal diagnostic indications. The overall detection rate of abnormalities by CNV-seq is relatively high, especially in those with high-risk NIPT results as an indication for prenatal diagnosis. Among the chromosomal structural abnormalities detected in this study, the frequencies of Xp22.31 microdeletion and 22q11.21 microduplication are higher.

X-ray-visible embolic microsphere (XEM) is a type of embolic microsphere that incorporates radiopaque substances within its matrix or on its surface, enabling visualization under X-ray imaging. This capability provides real-time intraprocedural feedback during transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), which helps optimize embolization outcomes and facilitates post-procedural evaluation. This article summarizes recent advances in the application of XEM in TACE and discusses the challenges associated with its clinical translation, with the aim of promoting the further development and clinical utilization of this technology.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of adult patients with phytosterolemia presenting with thrombocytopenia as the initial manifestation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on eight adult patients with phytosterolemia who visited Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, from December 2020 to December 2023.Results:① The participants consisted of 2 (25%) male and 6 (75%) female patients, with a median age at diagnosis of 55 years (range: 29-66 years). The median duration from the discovery of thrombocytopenia to diagnosis was 10 years (range: 0.2-50 years). ② Compared with the normal control group (30 healthy adult volunteers) and the immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) control group (20 patients with ITP), patients with phytosterolemia exhibited significantly higher mean platelet volume and large platelet ratio. Peripheral blood smears revealed that the mean platelet diameter and the proportion of large platelets (diameter> 4 μm) were significantly higher in patients with phytosterolemia than those in the normal and ITP control groups ( P<0.01). ③ After a low-plant-sterol diet and ezetimibe treatment, five patients demonstrated decreased serum sitosterol and campesterol levels, increased hemoglobin concentration and platelet counts, and reduced platelet volume. Conclusion:Adult-onset phytosterolemia presenting with thrombocytopenia as the initial manifestation is prone to misdiagnosis. The presence of hemolytic anemia, splenomegaly, increased large platelets and schistocytes on peripheral blood smears, and xanthomas are crucial diagnostic indicators. Restricting dietary plant sterol intake and using ezetimibe to inhibit sterol absorption effectively lowers serum plant sterol levels and improves hematological abnormalities.

BackgroundPatients with depressive disorder often exhibit impaired decision-making functions. However， the relationship between decision-making abilities and depressive and anxiety symptoms in these patients remains unclear. ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of decision-making behavior in patients with depressive disorder， and to analyze its relationship with clinical symptoms. MethodsA total of 48 patients diagnosed with depressive disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fourth edition （DSM-IV） were recruited from the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from October 2020 to May 2023. Concurrently， 52 healthy individuals matched for age and gender were recruited from Luzhou as the control group. Beck Depression Inventory （BDI） and Beck Anxiety Inventory （BAI） were used for assessment， and decision-making behavior was evaluated using Probabilistic Reversal Learning （PRL） task. Indicators assessed included the number of trials to criterion， perseverative errors， win-stay rate and lose-shift rate. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between BDI and BAI scores and PRL task indicators. ResultsThe depression group showed a significantly higher lose-shift rate compared with the control group （t=3.684， P<0.01）. There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in trials to criterion， perseverative errors and win-stay rate （t=0.329， 0.132， 0.609， P>0.05）. In depression group， BDI and BAI scores were positively correlated with the win-stay rate（r=0.450， 0.398， P<0.01）. ConclusionPatients with depressive disorder are more likely to change their decision-making strategies following negative outcomes. Furthermore， the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms is associated with a greater propensity to maintain existing decisions after receiving positive feedback. ［Funded by 2019 Joint Project of Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau-Southwest Medical University （number， 2019LZXNYDJ39］

BackgroundWith the rapid development of the networking technologies， internet addiction has increasingly become a serious mental health issue. Previous studies have revealed the link between childhood trauma and internet addiction， while the mediating role of perceived stress in this link is not yet clear. ObjectiveTo investigate the role of medical students' perceived stress in the relationship between childhood trauma and internet addiction， so as to provide references for the intervention of internet addiction. MethodsFrom February to March 2023， a random sampling technique was used to select 1 232 undergraduate students from the School of Clinical Medical Sciences of Southwest Medical University as research subjects. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form （CTQ-SF）， Perceived Stress Scale （PSS）， Internet Gaming Disorder Scale （IGDS）， and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale （BSMAS） were used for assessment. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated. The mediation effect of perceived stress in the relationship between childhood trauma and internet addiction was tested using Model 4 in the SPSS Process 4.1， and Bootstrapping procedure involving 5 000 replicates was employed to confirm the statistical significance. ResultsA total of 1 016 （82.47%） valid completed questionnaires were gathered. The CTQ-SF scores of medical students were positively correlated with PSS scores， IGD scores， and BSMAS scores （r=0.583， 0.474， 0.465， P<0.01）. PSS scores were positively correlated with IGD scores and BSMAS scores （r=0.369， 0.479， P<0.01）. Childhood trauma in medical students was found to positively predict perceived stress （β=0.191， P<0.01）， social media addiction （β=0.160， P<0.01）， and internet gaming disorder （β=0.106， P<0.01）. Perceived stress played a significant mediating role in the relationship between childhood trauma and internet gaming disorder， indirect effect value was 0.018 （95% CI： 0.009~0.027）， accounting for 16.98%. Perceived stress also exhibited a significant mediating role in the relationship between childhood trauma and social media addiction， indirect effect value was 0.063 （95% CI： 0.048~0.079）， accounting for 39.38%. ConclusionChildhood trauma in medical students may affect internet gaming disorder and social media addiction through perceived stress. ［Funded by 2022 Annual Research Project of Sichuan Applied Psychology Research Center，（number，CSXL-22102）］

BACKGROUND: Most studies have evaluated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients based on a set of generic disability weights (DWs). This study aimed to apply local CRC-stage-specific DWs to estimate the burden of DALYs for CRC (CRC-DALYs) in populations in China and consider the influence of local screening coverage of CRC. METHODS: A prevalence-based model was constructed using data from various sources. Years lived with disability (YLDs) were estimated mainly via cumulative prevalence data (based on CRC incidence rates, population numbers, and survival rates), stage-specific proportions of CRC, and DWs of the local population. Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated based on the CRC mortality rates and standard life expectancies. CRC incidence and mortality rates for the years 2020, 2025, and 2030 were estimated by joinpoint regression, and the corresponding DALYs were predicted. The main assumption was made for CRC screening coverage. Sensitivity analyses were used to assess the impact of population, DWs, and coverage. RESULTS: In 2017, among the Chinese population, the estimated number of CRC-DALYs was 4,303,314 (11.9% for YLDs). If CRC screening coverage rate in China (2.3%) remains unchanged, the overall DALYs in 2030 are predicted to increase by 37.2% (45.1% of those aged ≥65 years). More optimistically, the DALYs would then decrease by 0.7% in 2030 (from 5,902,454 to 5,860,200) if the coverage could be increased to 25.0%. A sensitivity analysis revealed that using local DWs would change the base-case values by 5.7%. CONCLUSIONS The estimated CRC-DALYs in China using population-specific DWs were considerably lower (with a higher percentage of YLDs) than the global burden of disease (GBD) estimates (5,865,004, of 4.6% for YLDs), suggesting the impact extent of applying local parameters. Sustainable scale-up CRC screening needs to be in place to moderate the growth trend of CRC-DALYs in China.
Humans ; Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years ; Male ; Prevalence ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Adult ; Incidence