PURPOSE: Septic shock is associated with high mortality and poor outcomes among sepsis patients with coagulopathy. Although traditional statistical methods or machine learning (ML) algorithms have been proposed to predict septic shock, these potential approaches have never been systematically compared. The present work aimed to develop and compare models to predict septic shock among patients with sepsis. METHODS: It is a retrospective cohort study based on 484 patients with sepsis who were admitted to our intensive care units between May 2018 and November 2022. Patients from the 908th Hospital of Chinese PLA Logistical Support Force and Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were respectively allocated to training (n=311) and validation (n=173) sets. All clinical and laboratory data of sepsis patients characterized by comprehensive coagulation indexes were collected. We developed 5 models based on ML algorithms and 1 model based on a traditional statistical method to predict septic shock in the training cohort. The performance of all models was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration plots. Decision curve analysis was used to evaluate the net benefit of the models. The validation set was applied to verify the predictive accuracy of the models. This study also used Shapley additive explanations method to assess variable importance and explain the prediction made by a ML algorithm. RESULTS: Among all patients, 37.2% experienced septic shock. The characteristic curves of the 6 models ranged from 0.833 to 0.962 and 0.630 to 0.744 in the training and validation sets, respectively. The model with the best prediction performance was based on the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm, which was constructed by age, tissue plasminogen activator-inhibitor complex, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, white blood cells, and platelet counts. The SVM model showed good calibration and discrimination and a greater net benefit in decision curve analysis. CONCLUSION The SVM algorithm may be superior to other ML and traditional statistical algorithms for predicting septic shock. Physicians can better understand the reliability of the predictive model by Shapley additive explanations value analysis.
Humans ; Shock, Septic/blood* ; Machine Learning ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Sepsis/complications* ; ROC Curve ; Cohort Studies ; Adult ; Intensive Care Units ; Algorithms ; Blood Coagulation ; Critical Illness

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of acute erythroleukemia (AEL) in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data, treatment, and prognosis of 8 children with AEL treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2023. RESULTS: Among the 7 patients with complete bone marrow morphological analysis, 4 exhibited trilineage dysplasia, with a 100% incidence of erythroid dysplasia (7/7), a 71% incidence of myeloid dysplasia (5/7), and a 57% incidence of megakaryocytic dysplasia (4/7). Immunophenotyping revealed that myeloid antigens were primarily expressed as CD13, CD33, CD117, CD38, and CD123, with 4 cases expressing erythroid antigens CD71 and 2 cases expressing CD235a. Chromosomal analysis indicated that 2 cases presented with abnormal karyotypes, including +8 in one case and +4 accompanied by +6 in another; no complex karyotypes were observed. Genetic abnormalities were detected in 4 cases, with fusion genes including one case each of dup MLL positive and EVI1 positive, as well as mutations involving KRAS, NRAS, WT1, and UBTF. Seven patients received chemotherapy, with 6 achieving remission after one course of treatment; 2 underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and all had disease-free survival. Follow-up (median follow-up time of 6 months) showed that only 3 patients survived (2 cases after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and 1 case during treatment). CONCLUSIONS Children with AEL have unique clinical and biological characteristics, exhibit poor treatment response, and have a poor prognosis; however, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may improve overall survival rates.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prognosis ; Child, Preschool ; Retrospective Studies ; Child ; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute/diagnosis* ; Infant ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of children with non-Down-syndrome-related acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (non-DS-AMKL). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical data of 17 children with non-DS-AMKL who were admitted to Children's Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2023, and their clinical features, treatment, and prognosis were summarized. RESULTS: Among the 17 children with non-DS-AMKL, there were 8 boys and 9 girls. Fourteen patients had an onset age of less than 36 months, with a median age of 21 months (range:13-145 months). Immunophenotyping results showed that 16 children were positive for CD61 and 13 were positive for CD41. The karyotype analysis was performed on 16 children, with normal karyotype in 6 children and abnormal karyotype in 9 children, among whom 5 had complex karyotype and 1 had no mitotic figure. Detected fusion genes included EVI1, NUP98-KDM5A, KDM5A-MIS18BP1, C22orf34-BRD1, WT1, and MLL-AF9. Genetic alterations included TET2, D7S486 deletion (suggesting 7q-), CSF1R deletion, and PIM1. All 17 children received chemotherapy, among whom 16 (94%) achieved complete remission after one course of induction therapy, and 1 child underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and remained alive and disease-free. Of all children, 7 experienced recurrence, among whom 1 child received HSCT and died of graft-versus-host disease. At the last follow-up, six patients remained alive and disease-free. CONCLUSIONS Non-DS-AMKL primarily occurs in children between 1 and 3 years of age. The patients with this disorder have a high incidence rate of chromosomal abnormalities, with complex karyotypes in most patients. Some patients harbor fusion genes or gene mutations. Although the initial remission rate is high, the long-term survival rate remains low.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute/etiology* ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Down Syndrome/complications*

Objective To investigate the expression levels and clinical significance of serum and placental microRNA(miR)-1227-3p and miR-212-3p in puerperas with fetal growth restriction(FGR).Methods A total of 120 puerperas diagnosed with FGR and completed delivery in our hospital were included as the study group.Patients were assigned into the mild group(n=72)and the severe group(n=48)according to the severity of their condition.Another 120 healthy puerperas who underwent prenatal check ups and delivered during the same period in our hospital were included as the control group.QRT-PCR was used to detect serum and placental miR-1227-3p and miR-212-3p.The pregnancy outcomes of both groups were recorded,including neonatal weight,1min Apgar score,placental weight and placental volume.Results Serum and placental miR-1227-3p expression levels,neonatal weight,1 min Apgar score,placental weight and placental volume were significantly lower in the study group than those of the control group(P＜0.05),while serum and placental miR-212-3p expression levels were significantly higher than those of the control group(P＜0.05).The expression levels of miR-1227-3p in serum and placenta of the severe group were obviously lower than those of the mild group(P＜0.05),while the expression level of miR-212-3p was obviously higher than those of the mild group(P＜0.05).The expression levels of miR-1227-3p in serum and placenta were positively correlated with neonatal weight,1 min Apgar score,placental weight and placental volume,and the expression levels of miR-212-3p in serum and placenta were negatively correlated with the above indicators(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated serum and placental miR-212-3p levels were risk factors for FGR(P＜0.05),and increased serum and placental miR-1227-3p,neonatal weight,1 min Apgar,placental weight and placental volume were protective factors(P＜0.05).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the diagnostic value of combined detection of serum and placenta miR-1227-3p and miR-212-3p levels for FGR was better than that of single diagnosis.Conclusion The combined detection of miR-1227-3p and miR-212-3p in serum and placenta of FGR puerperas has certain value in the clinical diagnosis of FGR.

Aim To investigate the effects of circ_0071653 targeting miR-197-3p on the proliferation and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ES-CC)cells.Methods The circular structure of circ_0071653 was confirmed by Sanger sequencing and ribo-nuclease R tolerance experiments.Real-time quantita-tive polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and tissue fluorescence in situ hybridization assay were performed to detect the circ_0071653 expression levels and ana-lyze its clinical relevance.Cell fluorescence in situ hy-bridization and nuclear cytoplasmic separation assays were used to verify the subcellular localization of circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p.Bioinformatics analysis,dual luciferase reporter gene and RT-qPCR assays were conducted to validate the interactions between circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p.Moreover,the cell counting Kit-8(CCK-8),colony formation,scratch,Transwell invasion and subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice assays were used to evaluate the effects of circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p on cell viability,prolifera-tion,migration,and invasion and in vivo tumorigenesi-sability.Results Circ_0071653 was a circular RNA,which showed high expression in ESCC cell lines and tissues.The expression of circ_0071653 was signifi-cantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and clini-cal stage of ESCC patients.Circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p were mainly localized in the cytoplasm.The databases predict that circ_0071653 had complementa-ry binding sites with miR-197-3p,and their binding were confirmed by dual luciferase reporter geneand RT-qPCR assays.Moreover,the activity,proliferation,migration,invasion and in vivo tumorigenesis abilities of ESCC cells were significantly reduced after knocking down circ_0071653,and this effect could be reversed by downregulating the expression of miR-197-3p.Con-clusions Circ_0071653 promotes the malignant pro-gression of ESCC through targeted regulation of miR-197-3p.

Objective:To investigate the effects of low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with exercise training on the recovery of rectus abdominis after delivery.Methods:This study used a case-control design. A total of 150 postpartum women with diastasis recti abdominis who were admitted to Women and Infants Hospital of Zhengzhou from January 2023 to March 2024 were selected for the study. The patients were divided into a treatment group ( n = 75, receiving low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with exercise training) and a control group ( n = 75, receiving exercise training only) based on the different treatment methods used. Both groups underwent treatment for 8 weeks. The inter-rectus distance, abdominal core muscle strength, pain levels, and thickness of the bilateral rectus abdominis muscles were compared between the two groups. Results:After treatment, the inter-rectus distances at 3 cm above the umbilicus, at the umbilicus, and 3 cm below the umbilicus in the treatment group were all smaller than those in the control group ( t = -3.25, -3.49, -4.52, all P<0.05). The time taken for the treatment group to complete the level 1 test of the eight-level abdominal bridge test was significantly longer than that in the control group [(62.00 ± 7.03) seconds vs. (35.89 ± 6.88) seconds, t = 22.99, P<0.05]. The root mean square values of the transverse abdominis muscle on both the affected side and the healthy side during the stepping test in the treatment group were greater than those in the control group [(6.70 ± 0.92) vs. (5.64 ± 0.89), t = 7.17, P<0.05]. The scores for each item on the Global Pain Scale and the total score in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The thicknesses of the rectus abdominis muscles on both sides (left side: at the umbilicus, 3 cm below the umbilicus; right side: 3 cm above the umbilicus, at the umbilicus, and 3 cm below the umbilicus) in the treatment group were greater than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with exercise training can promote the recovery of rectus abdominis function, reduce the inter-rectus distance, improve core muscle strength, increase the thickness of the rectus abdominis, and relieve pain.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of Vaccarin(Va)on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in renal fibrosis model mice through regulating STAT3,and the underlying mechanism.Methods Left ureter ligation was used to establish a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO);human kid-ney tubular epithelial(HK2)cells were induced to differentiate by transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)in vitro.HE and Masson staining were used to observe the morphological changes of renal tissue;kits were used to detect the levels of BUN,Cr,IL-1β and IL-7 in mouse serum;CCK-8 was used to detect the effect of Va on the viability of HK2 cells;RT-PCR was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors in HK2 cells;Western blot was used to detect the expression of STAT3,p-STAT3,E-cadherin,and α-SMA proteins in renal tissue and HK2 cells;to further investigate the regulation of Va on STAT3,JAK/STAT3 pathway acti-vator RO8191 was used to treat TGF-β-induced HK2 cells,and functional loss was detected.Results Va improved the pathological damage in UUO mice,inhibi-ted the levels of BUN,Cr and inflammatory factors;Va inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3,upregulated E-cadherin,and downregulated α-SMA protein expres-sion;RO8191 counteracted the inhibitory effect of Va on the phosphorylation of STAT3.Conclusions Va inhibits the phosphorylation of STAT3 and the release of inflammatory factors,improves EMT,thus exerting an anti-renal fibrosis effect.

Objective To investigate the expression levels and clinical significance of serum and placental microRNA(miR)-1227-3p and miR-212-3p in puerperas with fetal growth restriction(FGR).Methods A total of 120 puerperas diagnosed with FGR and completed delivery in our hospital were included as the study group.Patients were assigned into the mild group(n=72)and the severe group(n=48)according to the severity of their condition.Another 120 healthy puerperas who underwent prenatal check ups and delivered during the same period in our hospital were included as the control group.QRT-PCR was used to detect serum and placental miR-1227-3p and miR-212-3p.The pregnancy outcomes of both groups were recorded,including neonatal weight,1min Apgar score,placental weight and placental volume.Results Serum and placental miR-1227-3p expression levels,neonatal weight,1 min Apgar score,placental weight and placental volume were significantly lower in the study group than those of the control group(P＜0.05),while serum and placental miR-212-3p expression levels were significantly higher than those of the control group(P＜0.05).The expression levels of miR-1227-3p in serum and placenta of the severe group were obviously lower than those of the mild group(P＜0.05),while the expression level of miR-212-3p was obviously higher than those of the mild group(P＜0.05).The expression levels of miR-1227-3p in serum and placenta were positively correlated with neonatal weight,1 min Apgar score,placental weight and placental volume,and the expression levels of miR-212-3p in serum and placenta were negatively correlated with the above indicators(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated serum and placental miR-212-3p levels were risk factors for FGR(P＜0.05),and increased serum and placental miR-1227-3p,neonatal weight,1 min Apgar,placental weight and placental volume were protective factors(P＜0.05).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the diagnostic value of combined detection of serum and placenta miR-1227-3p and miR-212-3p levels for FGR was better than that of single diagnosis.Conclusion The combined detection of miR-1227-3p and miR-212-3p in serum and placenta of FGR puerperas has certain value in the clinical diagnosis of FGR.

Aim To investigate the effects of circ_0071653 targeting miR-197-3p on the proliferation and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ES-CC)cells.Methods The circular structure of circ_0071653 was confirmed by Sanger sequencing and ribo-nuclease R tolerance experiments.Real-time quantita-tive polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and tissue fluorescence in situ hybridization assay were performed to detect the circ_0071653 expression levels and ana-lyze its clinical relevance.Cell fluorescence in situ hy-bridization and nuclear cytoplasmic separation assays were used to verify the subcellular localization of circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p.Bioinformatics analysis,dual luciferase reporter gene and RT-qPCR assays were conducted to validate the interactions between circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p.Moreover,the cell counting Kit-8(CCK-8),colony formation,scratch,Transwell invasion and subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice assays were used to evaluate the effects of circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p on cell viability,prolifera-tion,migration,and invasion and in vivo tumorigenesi-sability.Results Circ_0071653 was a circular RNA,which showed high expression in ESCC cell lines and tissues.The expression of circ_0071653 was signifi-cantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and clini-cal stage of ESCC patients.Circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p were mainly localized in the cytoplasm.The databases predict that circ_0071653 had complementa-ry binding sites with miR-197-3p,and their binding were confirmed by dual luciferase reporter geneand RT-qPCR assays.Moreover,the activity,proliferation,migration,invasion and in vivo tumorigenesis abilities of ESCC cells were significantly reduced after knocking down circ_0071653,and this effect could be reversed by downregulating the expression of miR-197-3p.Con-clusions Circ_0071653 promotes the malignant pro-gression of ESCC through targeted regulation of miR-197-3p.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of Vaccarin(Va)on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in renal fibrosis model mice through regulating STAT3,and the underlying mechanism.Methods Left ureter ligation was used to establish a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO);human kid-ney tubular epithelial(HK2)cells were induced to differentiate by transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)in vitro.HE and Masson staining were used to observe the morphological changes of renal tissue;kits were used to detect the levels of BUN,Cr,IL-1β and IL-7 in mouse serum;CCK-8 was used to detect the effect of Va on the viability of HK2 cells;RT-PCR was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors in HK2 cells;Western blot was used to detect the expression of STAT3,p-STAT3,E-cadherin,and α-SMA proteins in renal tissue and HK2 cells;to further investigate the regulation of Va on STAT3,JAK/STAT3 pathway acti-vator RO8191 was used to treat TGF-β-induced HK2 cells,and functional loss was detected.Results Va improved the pathological damage in UUO mice,inhibi-ted the levels of BUN,Cr and inflammatory factors;Va inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3,upregulated E-cadherin,and downregulated α-SMA protein expres-sion;RO8191 counteracted the inhibitory effect of Va on the phosphorylation of STAT3.Conclusions Va inhibits the phosphorylation of STAT3 and the release of inflammatory factors,improves EMT,thus exerting an anti-renal fibrosis effect.