Transfer learning is a method of learning new tasks in related domain using existing knowledge from source data.In rare disease research,data are often limited.Transfer learning can effectively use data from other related diseases or fields to enhance model performance and research efficiency.This approach helps researchers rapidly identify characteristics and develop potential treatments of rare disease.Currently,transfer learning has been applied in the systematic characterization and drug development of rare diseases.It also shows potential in optimizing rare disease classification,accelerating early diagnosis,and supporting multi-task research.However,challenges arise in the application of transfer learning in rare disease research.In the future,if transfer learning can be combined with techniques such as reinforcement learning,federated learning,and deep learning,greater breakthroughs are expected to be achieved in the field of rare diseases.

Objective: To investigate the current prevalence of myopia and the progression of the axial length/corneal radius ratio(AL/CR) among primary school students in Jing an District, Shanghai, and to analyze the value of dynamic AL/CR monitoring and elucidate its longitudinal association with myopia progression, so as to provide evidences for supporting myopia prevention and control interventions. Methods: From 2019 to 2023, by using a stratified cluster random sampling method, 17 624 students from two primary schools in Jing an District, Shanghai were selected for annual vision screenings in five consecutive years. Additionally, a retrospective cohort of 480 eligible first grade students identified in 2019 was followed up until 2023. The analysis focused on the myopia prevalence and the trend in the AL/CR. Differences in screening myopia rates across different student groups from 2019 to 2023 were compared using the Chi square test. The trends in myopia rates were analyzed using the Chi square trend test. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was employed to compare AL/CR and its annual increment across groups. A linear mixed effects model was used to identify factors influencing AL/CR, and a time dependent Cox regression model was developed to predict the risk of myopia onset. Results: From 2019 to 2023, the screening myopia rates were 36.65%, 38.31%, 40.47%, 39.56%, and 39.76% for each respective year. Cohort analyses revealed Grade 5 girls had significantly greater AL/CR increments than boys ( Z =-2.05, P <0.05). Linear mixed models identified baseline AL/CR ( β =1.051, 95% CI =1.012-1.091), grade level ( β =0.040, 95% CI =0.038- 0.042 ), and first year AL/CR increment ( β =0.788, 95% CI =0.733-0.843) as primary determinants (all P <0.01). Boys showed slower AL/CR progression than girls ( β =-0.003, 95% CI =-0.005 to-0.001, P <0.01). The time dependent Cox model demonstrated that both baseline AL/CR ( Z =3.40) and its time varying effect ( Z =10.41) significantly predicted myopia risk(both P <0.01). The effect of AL/CR on myopia risk significantly increased with follow up time, and the growth rate exceeded a linear progression pattern. Conclusions AL/CR progression is primarily driven by baseline values and grade advancement, with slower progression in boys. Dynamic AL/CR monitoring outperforms baseline measurements in predicting myopia progression. Students with rapid AL/CR increments require early intervention.

Objective To analyze the risk factors for chronic cough following pulmonary surgery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 427 NSCLC patients who underwent pulmonary surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China, between January 2021 and June 2023. Patients were categorized into a chronic cough group (103 patients) and a non-chronic cough group (324 patients) based on the presence of cough at 8 weeks post-surgery. A comparative analysis was performed between the two groups, considering gender, age, smoking history, comorbidities, preoperative pulmonary function indicators, pleural adhesion, anesthesia duration, surgical site, operative techniques, lymph node dissection methods, tumor maximum diameter, and postoperative chest tube duration. Factors showing statistical significance in univariate analysis underwent multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 427 patients undergoing pulmonary surgery, there were 165 males and 262 females, with an average age of (59.93±12.11) years. The incidence of chronic cough was 24.12%. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in smoking history, preoperative pulmonary function indicators, pleural adhesion, anesthesia duration ≥135.5 minutes, surgical site, operative techniques, lymph node dissection methods, tumor maximum diameter, and postoperative chest tube duration (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the surgical site (right upper lung), operative techniques (lobectomy), lymph node dissection, and anesthesia time ≥135.5 minutes were independent risk factors for chronic cough following pulmonary surgery. Conclusion Patients undergoing right upper lung surgery, lobectomy, lymph node dissection, and experiencing anesthesia duration ≥135.5 minutes are at a higher risk of developing chronic cough post-pulmonary surgery.

In this study, we employed a combination of genome mining and heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC)-based small molecule accurate recognition technology (SMART) technology to search for fernane-type triterpenoids. Initially, potential endophytic fungi were identified through genome mining. Subsequently, fine fractions containing various fernane-type triterpenoids were selected using HSQC data collection and SMART prediction. These triterpenoids were then obtained through targeted isolation and identification. Finally, their antifungal activity was evaluated. As a result, three fernane-type triterpenoids, including two novel compounds, along with two new sesquiterpenes and four known compounds were isolated from one potential strain, Diaporthe discoidispora. Their structures were elucidated through analysis of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and electron capture detector (ECD) analysis. Compound 3 exhibited moderate antifungal activity against Candida albicans CMCC 98001 and Aspergillus niger.
Triterpenes/isolation & purification* ; Antifungal Agents/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Candida albicans/drug effects* ; Ascomycota/genetics* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Aspergillus niger/drug effects* ; Genome, Fungal ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Transfer learning is a method of learning new tasks in related domain using existing knowledge from source data.In rare disease research,data are often limited.Transfer learning can effectively use data from other related diseases or fields to enhance model performance and research efficiency.This approach helps researchers rapidly identify characteristics and develop potential treatments of rare disease.Currently,transfer learning has been applied in the systematic characterization and drug development of rare diseases.It also shows potential in optimizing rare disease classification,accelerating early diagnosis,and supporting multi-task research.However,challenges arise in the application of transfer learning in rare disease research.In the future,if transfer learning can be combined with techniques such as reinforcement learning,federated learning,and deep learning,greater breakthroughs are expected to be achieved in the field of rare diseases.

On August 2-4,2023,the"Third Summit Forum on'Building a Community of Shared Future for Doctors and Patients'"was jointly organized by institutions such as the Chinese Medical Ethics,the Hospital Humanities Management and Talent Training Special Committee of the China Population and Culture Promotion Association,Center for Ethical Studies of Renmin University of China,the Newspaper for China's Physicians,the China Health Law Society,the China Anti-Cancer Association,and the China Association For Ethical Studies in Harbin.The conference arranged a sub-forum for the"Seminar on the Construction of Chinese Medical Humanities",with domestic medical humanities scholars attending the conference.After heated discussions at the seminar,the Scholars'Consensus on the Construction and Development of Chinese Medical Humanities was formed.It was proposed that in the new era,it is urgent to build the medical humanities discipline,as well as lead the academic integration and development of medical humanities under the core socialist values.At the same time,for the construction of the medical humanities discipline,it is necessary to optimize the organizational mechanism,prosper and develop the overall framework of the medical humanities discipline,accelerate the construction of a professional teaching team for the medical humanities discipline,promote the establishment of a new carrier medical humanities education and teaching in cultivating morality and nurturing talents,as well as focus on solving problems related to the cultivation of medical humanities graduate students.

Environmental monitoring technologies competition can effectively improve the comprehensive quality and technical skills of technical personnel by means of professional theory exams and on-site practical assessment. In view of the undertaking work of the Second National Competition of Professional and Technical Personnel in Ecology and Environment Monitoring (special competition for radiation monitoring), this paper summarized the experience and gains in the aspects of preliminary preparation, field implementation, achievement generation, etc., analyzed the problems in national radiation environmental monitoring through the achievements of the special competition for radiation monitoring, and put forward recommendations for the next step, in order to provide reference for undertaking similar major events in the future and provide ideas and directions for national radiation environmental monitoring.

Objective:To investigate the species types and phylogenetic relationship of canine Leishmania in Diebu County, Gansu Province, so as to provide a basis for exploring new methods of prevention and control of canine visceral leishmaniasis. Methods:DNA was extracted from blood samples of eight asymptomatic Leishmania-infected dogs in Luoda administrative village in Diebu County, Gansu Province. Ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) gene fragments were amplified and isolated by PCR, and then the amplified target fragments were sequenced. The MEGA 7.0 software was used for multiple sequence alignment, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed by neighbor-joining method to analyze the phylogenetic relationship of canine Leishmania in Diebu County, Gansu Province. Results:Fragments of about 320 bp corresponding in size to the target sequence ITS-1 were isolated from all of the eight asymptomatic Leishmania-infected dogs blood samples. ITS-1 sequence alignment showed that the sequence homology between 8 samples and Leishmania infantum MG969403, MN648755 strains was 99.1% - 100.0%; phylogenetic tree showed that all 8 samples were clustered into one branch with Leishmania infantum. Conclusion:Leishmania infantum is identified from all of the eight asymptomatic Leishmania-infected dogs blood samples in Diebu County, Gansu Province.

Objective:To analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of dogs infected with Leishmania in Wenxian and Diebu counties of Gansu Province, and provide a scientific basis for implementation of precise prevention and control measures. Methods:In 2019, blood samples were collected from all dogs in visceral leishmaniasis endemic areas Xinglong Village, Wenxian County and Luoda Village, Diebu County, Gansu Province, by cluster sampling method. The primer RV1-RV2 which was commonly used to diagnose visceral leishmaniasis, was used for PCR amplification of dog blood samples. SaTScan V9.5 software was used to analyze the spatial clustering of dogs infected with Leishmania. Results:A total of 537 dogs were investigated, and the number of positive infection was 221, with a positive rate of 41.2%. Among them, the positive rates of dogs infected with Leishmania in Wenxian and Diebu counties were 64.6% (95/147) and 32.3% (126/390), respectively. The results of SaTScan analysis showed that the spatial clustering of dogs infected with Leishmania in Wenxian and Diebu counties were not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:There are no spatial clustering of dogs infected with Leishmania in Wenxian and Diebu counties, but the positive rate of dogs infected with Leishmania is higher, and there is a higher risk of epidemic. It is recommended to strengthen health education in local area, strictly drive out lacewings, detect and kill diseased dogs, and reduce the risk of visceral leishmaniasis transmission.

Objective:To investigate the Leishmania infection status in dogs in canine-derived visceral leishmaniasis endemic areas in Wenxian County and Diebu County of Gansu Province, to provide basis for formulating effective prevention and treatment measures for visceral leishmaniasis. Methods:In 2019, household survey method was used to collect dog basic information (such as gender and age) in villages with higher incidence of previous cases in Wenxian County and Diebu County of Gansu Province; and venous blood of dog was collected, PCR method was used to detect microloop DNA of Leishmania. Results:A total of 537 dogs were investigated, the positive rate of Leishmania detected by PCR was 41.15% (221/537); the positive rates of PCR detection were 64.63% (95/147) and 32.31% (126/390) in Wenxian County and Diebu County, respectively, and the positive rate in Wenxian County was higher than that in Diebu County (χ 2=46.044, P < 0.05). In 35 dogs with clinical symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis, the positive rate of PCR detection was 74.29% (26/35); the positive rates of PCR detection in symptomatically infected dogs were 84.62% (22/26) and 4/9 in Wenxian County and Diebu County, respectively, the positive rate in Wenxian County was higher than that in Diebu County ( P < 0.05). The positive rate of PCR detection was 38.84% (195/502) in 502 asymptomatic dogs; the positive rates of PCR detection were 60.33% (73/121) and 32.02% (122/381) in Wenxian County and Diebu County, respectively, the positive rate in Wenxian County was higher than that in Diebu County (χ 2=39.982, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The infection rates of Leishmania in dogs are high in Wenxian County and Diebu County of Gansu Province, the positive rate of PCR detection in asymptomatic dogs infected with Leishmania is high. This indicates that local residents and dogs are at high risk of infection with Leishmania. It is recommended that relevant departments should enhance residents' awareness of active protection and strengthen efforts to control the Leishmania infection of dogs.