Objective:To investigate the survival outcomes and prognostic factors in patients undergoing radical resection for pancreatic body and tail cancer.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted on 992 patients who underwent radical resection for pancreatic body and tail cancer at the Pancreatic Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2016 to June 2024. In this study, 577 (58.2%) were male and 415 (41.8%) were female,with an age of (65±9) years (range: 26 to 86 years). Follow-up continued until June 2024. Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method,and prognostic factors were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models.Results:Among 992 patients,open surgery was the predominant approach (89.1%, 884/992), and radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) was performed in 317 patients (32.0%). Combined organ resection,venous resection,and arterial resection were performed in 23.5%, 9.3%,and 11.2% of patients,respectively. The rates of R0, R1-1 mm, and R1-direct resections were 49.8% (494/992),41.5% (412/992), and 8.7% (86/992),respectively. Stage ⅡB was the most common TNM stage (32.2%,319/992). A total of 801 patients (80.8%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up period was 32.0(8.8) months(range:3.2 to 105.3 months),during which 508 patients (51.2%) died. The overall median survival (OS) was 26.4 months,with 1-,3-, and 5-year survival rates of 79.0%,40.0%, and 29.0%, respectively. In the recent five years (from 2020 to 2024), the median OS improved significantly to 34.1 months compared to 20.0 months from 2016 to 2019 ( P<0.01). Histological subtype analysis showed that the median OS time was 26.7 months for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC, n=855),58.9 months for invasive intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma (IPMC, n=32),and 15.7 months for adenosquamous carcinoma of pancreas (ASCP, n=73) ( P=0.001). Among PDAC patients, adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved survival (29.1 months vs. 14.4 months, P<0.01);in IPMC patients, adjuvant chemotherapy also extended survival (65.7 months vs. 58.9 months, P=0.047). Although ASCP patients receiving chemotherapy had a longer median OS time than those without (18.8 months vs. 8.9 months),the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.151). Multivariate Cox regression analysis in PDAC patients indicated that adjuvant chemotherapy, R0 resection, T stage,N stage,and tumor differentiation were independent prognostic factors ( P<0.01). The median OS time by TNM stage was:not reached for stage ⅠA, 51.6 months for ⅠB, 25.5 months for ⅡA, 23.7 months for ⅡB, 23.0 months for Ⅲ, and 14.4 months for Ⅳ. The median OS time for R0,R1-1 mm,and R1-direct resections was 34.1,24.7,and 15.7 months,respectively ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Adjuvant chemotherapy,R0 resection,tumor stage,and differentiation are independent prognostic factors for pancreatic body and tail cancer.

Objective Objective To analyze the potential spatial factors affecting the genetic differentiation of Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni in Yunnan Province. Methods A total of 13 administrative villages were selected from schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Yunnan Province as O. hupensis snail sampling sites. At least 200 snails were collected in each site, and the spatial variable data of each site were recorded, including longitude, latitude and altitude. Thirty active and Schistosoma japonicum uninfected O. hupensis snails were selected from each sampling site by means of the crawling method and the cercarial shedding method. Genomic DNA was extracted from O. hupensis snails. Following PCR amplification, purification of PCR amplification products and sequencing, the gene sequences of O. hupensis snail samples were spliced and edited using the DNAstar software and the NCBI database to yield the complete mitochondrial sequences of O. hupensis snails at each sampling site, and the mitochondrial genetic distance matrix of O. hupensis robertsoni was calculated at each sampling site. The geographical coordinates of each sampling site were marked using the software ArcGIS 10.2, and the straight-line geographical distance between each sampling site was calculated. The altitude difference, longitude difference and latitude difference between each sampling site were calculated using the Excel software, and the correlation between the mitochondrial genetic distance matrix of O. hupensis robertsoni and each spatial variable matrix was examined by using the Mantel test at 13 sampling sites in Yunnan Province. Results Among the 13 O. hupensis snail sampling sites in Yunnan Province, the largest mitochondrial genetic distance of O. hupensis robertsoni snail populations was seen between Anding Village, Nanjian Yi Autonomous County and Caizhuang Village, Midu County (26.244 2), and the largest geographical distance was seen between Dongyuan Village, Gucheng District and Cangling Village, Chuxiong County (272.64 km). The highest altitude difference was seen between Anding Village, Nanjian Yi Autonomous County and Dongyuan Village, Gucheng District (1 086.10 m), and the largest longitude difference was found between Qiandian Village, Eryuan County and Cangling Village, Chuxiong County (1.86°), while the largest latitude difference was measured between Leqiu Village, Nanjian Yi Autonomous County and Dongyuan Village, Gucheng District (1.81°). In addition, the mitochondrial genetic distance of O. hupensis robertsoni snail populations was positively correlated with altitude at 13 snail sampling sites in Yunnan Province (r = 0.542 8, P < 0.001), and showed no significant correlations with geographical distance (r = 0.093 4, P > 0.05), longitude (r = −0.199 5, P > 0.05) or latitude (r = 0.205 7, P > 0.05). Conclusion Altitude may be a potential spatial factor affecting the genetic differentiation of O. hupensis robertsoni in Yunnan Province.

Objective:To investigate the survival outcomes and prognostic factors in patients undergoing radical resection for pancreatic body and tail cancer.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted on 992 patients who underwent radical resection for pancreatic body and tail cancer at the Pancreatic Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2016 to June 2024. In this study, 577 (58.2%) were male and 415 (41.8%) were female,with an age of (65±9) years (range: 26 to 86 years). Follow-up continued until June 2024. Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method,and prognostic factors were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models.Results:Among 992 patients,open surgery was the predominant approach (89.1%, 884/992), and radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) was performed in 317 patients (32.0%). Combined organ resection,venous resection,and arterial resection were performed in 23.5%, 9.3%,and 11.2% of patients,respectively. The rates of R0, R1-1 mm, and R1-direct resections were 49.8% (494/992),41.5% (412/992), and 8.7% (86/992),respectively. Stage ⅡB was the most common TNM stage (32.2%,319/992). A total of 801 patients (80.8%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up period was 32.0(8.8) months(range:3.2 to 105.3 months),during which 508 patients (51.2%) died. The overall median survival (OS) was 26.4 months,with 1-,3-, and 5-year survival rates of 79.0%,40.0%, and 29.0%, respectively. In the recent five years (from 2020 to 2024), the median OS improved significantly to 34.1 months compared to 20.0 months from 2016 to 2019 ( P<0.01). Histological subtype analysis showed that the median OS time was 26.7 months for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC, n=855),58.9 months for invasive intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma (IPMC, n=32),and 15.7 months for adenosquamous carcinoma of pancreas (ASCP, n=73) ( P=0.001). Among PDAC patients, adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved survival (29.1 months vs. 14.4 months, P<0.01);in IPMC patients, adjuvant chemotherapy also extended survival (65.7 months vs. 58.9 months, P=0.047). Although ASCP patients receiving chemotherapy had a longer median OS time than those without (18.8 months vs. 8.9 months),the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.151). Multivariate Cox regression analysis in PDAC patients indicated that adjuvant chemotherapy, R0 resection, T stage,N stage,and tumor differentiation were independent prognostic factors ( P<0.01). The median OS time by TNM stage was:not reached for stage ⅠA, 51.6 months for ⅠB, 25.5 months for ⅡA, 23.7 months for ⅡB, 23.0 months for Ⅲ, and 14.4 months for Ⅳ. The median OS time for R0,R1-1 mm,and R1-direct resections was 34.1,24.7,and 15.7 months,respectively ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Adjuvant chemotherapy,R0 resection,tumor stage,and differentiation are independent prognostic factors for pancreatic body and tail cancer.

Objective:To evaluate the levels and source of cadmium exposure by dietary pathway among middle-aged and elderly people ≥40 in cadmium-contaminated areas of China.Methods:A total of 7 193 people aged 40-89 years from four typical cadmium-contaminated areas in China were selected as the study subjects. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Total Diet Study (TDS) and a 3-day-24-hour dietary recall survey were conducted. Dietary cadmium intake and food sources through dietary pathways were assessed based on cadmium content in foods, consumption amounts and intake frequencies.Results:The mean age of the participants was 63.39±12.21 years, with 50.05% being males. The average monthly dietary cadmium intake was 7.39 μg/(kg·BW). Staple foods and vegetables were the primary sources of dietary cadmium intake, accounting for 57.51% and 32.48%, respectively. The monthly dietary cadmium intake in all surveyed regions did not exceed the Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake (PTMI) recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).Conclusion:The monthly dietary cadmium intake among middle-aged and elderly people in cadmium-contaminated areas of China is relatively low, with the risk remaining at an acceptable level. Staple foods and vegetables are the most significant contributors to dietary cadmium intake.

Objective:To analyze the financial status of urban public hospitals in China and provide references for promoting the integration of business and finance as well as refined management in urban public hospitals.Methods:Based on the financial data of urban public hospitals in 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) from the annual financial reports of public hospitals issued by the Department of Finance of the National Health Commission during 2019—2021, the DuPont analysis system was employed to dissect the financial status of urban public hospitals in China, with return on net assets as the core indicator. The profitability was measured by return on net assets, the operational capability was measured by the total asset turnover rate, and the debt-paying ability was measured by the short-term debt-paying ability indicator, current ratio, and the long-term debt-paying ability indicator, debt-to-asset ratio.Results:From 2019 to 2021, the number of urban public hospitals in China were 2 752, 2 797, and 2 815, respectively. The return on net assets was 8.83%, 9.29%, and 7.65%, respectively, with the changes mainly influenced by medical revevene surplus rate. The total asset turnover rate was 81.92%, 68.36%, and 73.54%, respectively, with the changes mainly affected by total assets and medical income. The current ratios were 1.23, 1.20, and 1.16, respectively, while the debt-to-asset ratios were 44.88%, 44.47%, and 43.86%, respectively, which remained at a relatively high level. The proportion of non-current assets was 53.50%, 55.26%, and 56.88%, respectively.Conclusions:From 2019 to 2021, the profitability and operational efficiency of urban public hospitals in China both declined, showing a current operational status of high asset intensity and high debt. It is recommended that national administrative departments increase financial input and optimize asset allocation. Urban public hospitals should enhance comprehensive budget management and improve the refinement level of operational management to achieve efficient and sustainable development.

Objective:To analyse the impact of diagnosis-related groups (DRG) payment reform on the length of stay and hospitalisation expenses of patients in pilot medical institutions of Beijing, for references for the formulation and optimisation of DRG payment related policies.Methods:The home page data of inpatient medical records from 56 medical institutions that implemented DRG payment in Beijing from April to October 2021 (before DRG payment reform) and April to October 2022 (after DRG payment reform). Patients participating in the basic medical insurance for urban employees in Beijing were selected as the reform group, and others served as the control group. The difference-in-differences model (DID) were used to analyse the related indicators, to evaluate the effectiveness of the reform.Results:This study comprised a total of 3 294 003 inpatients. Of them, 1 714 134 cases were in the control group (911 100 cases before the reform and 803 034 cases after) and 1 579 869 cases were in the study group (802 899 cases before the reform and 776 970 cases after). The gender, age composition and treatment methods of patients changed little before and after the reform. But the proportion of patients with severe comorbidities or complications rose from 11.11% before the reform to 13.19% after the reform. Through the analysis of the DID model, the DRG payment reform could reduce the length of stay ( P=0.001) and hospitalization expenses of patients ( P<0.001), and played a certain optimising role in the cost structure. Among them, the proportion of medical service expenses did not change significantly ( P=0.977), the proportion of inspection and testing expenses, as well as drug expenses decreased slightly ( P=0.001, P=0.004), and the proportion in consumable expenditures increased slightly ( P=0.001). Conclusions:DRG payment reform played a positive role in shortening the length of stay and hospitalization expenses. It was suggested that medical institutions in Beijing should further optimize the structure of patient hospitalization expenses, with a focus on exploring effective ways to increase the medical service revenue and reasonably control the consumables costs.

Resistance to poly adenosine diphosphate(ADP)-ribose polymerase inhibitor(PARPi)presents a considerable obstacle in the treatment of ovarian cancer.F-box and tryptophan-aspartic(WD)repeat domain containing 11(FBXW11)modulates the ubiquitination of growth-and invasion-related factors in lung cancer,colorectal cancer,and osteosarcoma.The function of FBXW11 in PARPi therapy is still ambiguous.In this study,RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)showed that FBXW11 expression was raised in ovarian cancer cells that had been treated with PARPi.FBXW11 was abnormally expressed at low levels in high-grade serous ovarian cancer(HGSOC)tissues,and low levels of FBXW11 were associated with shorter overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)in HGSOC patients.Overexpressing FBXW11 made ovarian cancer more sensitive to PARPi,while knocking down FBXW11 made it less sensitive.The four-dimensional(4D)label-free quantitative proteomic analysis revealed that FBXW11 targeted S100 calcium binding protein A11(S100A11)and promoted its degradation through ubiquiti-nation.The increased degradation of S100A11 led to less efficient DNA damage repair,which in turn contributed to increased PARPi-induced DNA damage.The role of FBXW11 in promoting PARPi sensitivity was also confirmed in xenograft mouse models.In summary,our study confirms that FBXW11 promotes the susceptibility of ovarian cancer cells to PARPi via affecting S10OA11-mediated DNA damage repair.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of two children diagnosed with two rare genetic diseases simultaneously. METHODS: Two children with comorbidity of two genetic diseases due to dual genetic mutations diagnosed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University respectively in May 2022 and March 2023 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical and genetic data of the two children were retrospectively analyzed. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethic No. 2021-062-01). RESULTS: Child 1 was a 2-year-and-4-month-old boy whose clinical manifestations included facial dysmorphism, developmental delay, short stature, microcephaly, cleft palate, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, recurrent infections and immunological abnormalities. Whole exome sequencing revealed that he had harbored a heterozygous c.6595delT (p.Y2199Ifs*65) variant of the KMT2D gene and a heterozygous c.1892G>A (p.R631Q) variant of the PIK3R1 gene. This has led to a dual genetic diagnosis of Kabuki syndrome and PI3Kδ-related immunodeficiency type 36. Child 2 was a 15-year-old girl whose clinical manifestations included epilepsy, Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy, long body trunk, short limbs, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia and hyperparathyroidism. The child also had a family history of short stature. Whole exome sequencing revealed that she had harbored a heterozygous c.2T>C (p.Met1?) variant of the GNAS gene and deletion of exons 2 to 6 of the SHOX gene. The two variants have led to dual diagnose of pseudohypoparathyroidism and X-linked idiopathic short stature. CONCLUSION When the clinical phenotype of a genetic disease is complex and cannot be fully explained with a single genetic variant, multiple pathogenic variants should be considered, and this may lead to the diagnosis of co-morbid genetic diseases. To adopt or supplement corresponding genetic testing in time and re-analyze the genetic data may facilitate accurate diagnosis of co-morbid genetic diseases.
Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/genetics* ; Comorbidity ; Exome Sequencing ; Mutation ; Rare Diseases/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVE: To report the blood group antigen and antibody specificity identification methods for a patient with high-frequency antibodies, and the process of finding and providing compatible blood for the patient. METHODS: A patient sent from the Blood Transfusion Department of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital to Blood Transfusion Technology Research Laboratory of Taiyuan Blood Center in November 2022 was selected for the study. Classical serological methods were used to determine the patient's blood type, screen for unexpected antibodies, identify antibodies, and perform crossmatching. High-frequency antibody identification was carried out using red blood cells treated with various enzymes. Blood group genotyping was conducted using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and Sanger sequencing. Multiple strategies were employed to address the patient's blood source problem. The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Taiyuan Blood Center [Ethics No. 2024 Ethics Review No.(2)]. RESULTS: The patient's blood type was B, RhD positive. Initial screening of the patient's serum with multiple screening cells and antibody identification cells in saline medium was negative, but positive in antiglobulin medium. The patient's serum showed varying reaction intensities with red blood cells treated with different enzymes. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and Sanger sequencing revealed a homozygous nonsense variant c.376C>T (p.Gln126Ter) in the ABCG2 gene, resulting in the Jr(a-) phenotype. During family donor selection, the patient's son was found to have a heterozygous variant c.376C>T (p.Gln126Ter), and another heterozygous variant c.421C>A (p.Gln141Lys), which predicted a Jr(a+w) phenotype. Crossmatch tests confirmed the compatibility of blood from the patient's son, which was used to address the urgent blood requirement. Later, rare blood from a Jr(a-) donor from the Guangzhou Blood Center was used for the patient's ongoing treatment, saving the patient's life. CONCLUSION Combining classic serological testing with blood group gene typing techniques successfully identified the rare Jr(a-) blood type and high-frequency anti-Jra antibodies. Enzyme-treated red blood cell identification methods confirmed the presence of anti-Jra antibodies. By searching within the family and seeking help from other blood centers, compatible blood was found. This approach may provide insights for resolving similar complex blood matching problems in the future.
Humans ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching/methods* ; Blood Group Antigens/immunology* ; Blood Transfusion ; Male ; Isoantibodies/blood* ; Female ; Genotype

OBJECTIVE: To report on a case of mosaicism involving trisomy 21, maternal uniparental isodisomy, and normal diploid cells in uncultured amniocytes, and to explore the discrepancies between conventional cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic techniques during prenatal diagnosis. METHODS: A 30-year-old pregnant woman who presented to Boai Hospital of Zhongshan on June 27, 2023 has undergone amniocentesis at 16 weeks of gestation. The amniotic fluid sample was subjected to quantitative fluorescent PCR (QF-PCR), G-banded karyotype analysis, and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). The discrepancies between the results of each method were analyzed. This study was approved by Medical Ethics Committee of Boai Hospital of Zhongshan (Ethics No.: KY-2024-001-01). RESULTS: Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) at 12 weeks indicated a high risk of trisomy 21. QF-PCR of uncultured amniocytes revealed a pattern of trisomy 21. After one week of cell culture, G-banding analysis showed mos 47,XX,+21[1]/46,XX[72]. CMA revealed a homozygous state of chromosome 21 in cultured cells, while uncultured amniocytes showed mosaic trisomy 21 with an estimated proportion of 50%. These findings suggested a complex chromosomal mosaicism in the fetus, which may result from a trisomy rescue event during early embryogenesis, leading to coexistence of three cell lines including trisomy 21, maternal uniparental isodisomy, and normal diploid cells. CONCLUSION In prenatal diagnosis, discrepancies may arise between QF-PCR and conventional chromosomal karyotyping analysis, particularly in complex genetic phenomena such as trisomy rescue and uniparental disomy. For cases where NIPT indicated a high risk of trisomy 21 but G-banding karyotype analysis yielded a normal result, further molecular genetic testing using uncultured cells is recommended.
Humans ; Female ; Mosaicism ; Pregnancy ; Uniparental Disomy/diagnosis* ; Adult ; Down Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Diploidy ; Karyotyping ; Amniocentesis