Objective: To systematically analyze the current status and influencing factors of platelet supply in medical institutions across China, and to explore the problems and future development directions of the existing supply models. Methods: From February 25 to March 5, 2025, a web-based questionnaire survey was performed. A self-designed questionnaire was distributed to staff in the blood transfusion departments of medical institutions nationwide in China. Data on the current status and influencing factors of platelet supply were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 2 268 responses were collected in this survey, with 1 366 valid questionnaires finally included, covering 33 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government across China. The survey revealed that platelet supply in Chinese medical institutions exhibited a pattern of "sufficient in the eastern region, stable in the central region, and scarce in the western region": adequate in East China; generally favorable in South China except Guangxi; centered on Beijing and Tianjin in North China; basically met but with insufficient reserves in Central China; subject to seasonal fluctuations in Northeast China; only meeting the baseline supply in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan in Southwest China; and notably short in Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang in Northwest China. Family donor mobilization was required in 81.2% (1 109/1 366) of institutions, whereas this proportion was only 12.7% (173/1 366) among institutions with sufficient supply. Tertiary hospitals constituted the main users, among which tertiary Class A hospitals had the highest sufficiency rate, and secondary Class B hospitals showed the most pronounced shortage. A total of 84% (1 147/1 366) of institutions lacked a professional management team; only 19% (266/1 366) had an inventory warning system, of which 88% (234/266) considered it effective. Platelet reservation required 3 days in 33% (458/1 366) of institutions. The mandatory transfusion rate was 30.55% (29/118) when the reservation lead time exceeded 3 days, representing an increase of 5.98% compared with 24.57% (55/180) in the same-day reservation group. For optimization, most institutions called for improved blood donation services, strengthened education and incentives, establishment of regional coordination and policy collaboration, and supplementary suggestions focused on technologies for extending platelet shelf life. Conclusion: Regional imbalance in platelet supply across China is prominent, with supply shortages in some provinces, reliance on family donor mobilization in most institutions, weak grassroots support capacity, imperfect management systems, and supply timeliness constraining clinical practice. Systematic improvements are needed in optimizing blood donation services, strengthening regional coordination, improving relevant policies, and developing platelet preservation technologies, so as to enhance the level of supply security and patient safety.

ObjectiveThe malaria parasites remodel the host erythrocyte structure by exporting parasite proteins that interact with the membrane skeleton proteins of red blood cells (RBCs), facilitating their intracellular survival and pathogenicity. Skeleton-binding protein 1 (SBP1) is a conserved exported protein across Plasmodium species. In Plasmodium falciparum, SBP1 has been reported to interact with erythrocyte membrane skeleton proteins 4.1R and spectrin, while its contribution to erythrocyte remodeling and parasite virulence in Plasmodium berghei (Pb) remains unclear. This study aims to determine whether PbSBP1 associates with the host cytoskeletal protein 4.1R and to investigate its role in the remodeling of host RBCs and the pathogenicity of Plasmodium berghei. MethodsIn Plasmodium berghei, the relationship between PbSBP1 and the erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein 4.1R was examined using co-immunoprecipitation. A Pbsbp1 gene knockout mutant of Plasmodium berghei (Pbsbp1∆) was generated based on the principle of double crossover homologous recombination. The deformability of erythrocytes infected with Pbsbp1∆ parasites was assessed using microfluidic methods. Microchannels with an array of cylindrical pillars were used to detect modifications in infected RBC deformability. The infected RBCs were squashed between the rows and recovered between the columns and the transit velocity (μm/s) of infected RBCs travelling through the microchannel was recorded. The component of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton junctional complex, tropomodulin (TMOD), was fluorescently labeled, and the cytoskeletal network of infected erythrocytes was imaged using super-resolution stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) to analyze ultrastructural changes in the cytoskeleton of wild-type (WT) and Pbsbp1∆-infected erythrocytes. Actin-based junctional complexes were displayed as individual clusters by the labeled TMOD in the STORM images, and the cluster densities and distances between adjacent clusters of infected RBCs were calculated. Additionally, rodent malaria models (BALB/c mice) and experimental cerebral malaria models (C57BL/6 mice) were employed to monitor the growth of Pbsbp1∆ and WT parasites during the intraerythrocytic stage and their capacity to induce cerebral malaria in mice. ResultsPbSBP1 may participate in the remodeling of infected erythrocytes through direct or indirect interaction with the erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein 4.1R. Microfluidic assays revealed that the deformability of erythrocytes infected with Pbsbp1∆ parasites was significantly enhanced compared to those infected with WT parasites. STORM imaging further demonstrated that the ultrastructure of the erythrocyte cytoskeleton in Pbsbp1∆-infected cells was altered relative to that in WT-infected erythrocytes. The distances between nearest neighbors of clusters had a tendency to increase while the cluster densities were decreased in Pbsbp1∆-infected RBCs compared to WT-infected RBCs. Subsequent phenotypic analysis indicated that the growth rate of Pbsbp1∆ parasites during the intraerythrocytic stage was significantly slower than that of WT parasites, and their ability to induce cerebral malaria in mice was also attenuated. These findings suggest that PbSBP1 is involved in the remodeling of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton, likely through its direct or indirect interaction with protein 4.1R, thereby regulating the deformability of infected erythrocytes and influencing the pathogenicity of the blood-stage parasites. ConclusionThis study establishes a role for PbSBP1 in host erythrocyte remodeling and parasite virulence, providing new research strategies for the prevention and treatment of malaria.

Objective To participate in the collaborative calibration study of the 2 nd international standard(IS) candidate(code: 23/148) for serum amyloid A(SAA).Methods According to the research plan of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency(MHRA), National Institutes for Food and Drug Control of China, on behalf of Chinese laboratories,organized 12 laboratories(including kit enterprises or testing institutions) for calibration using six chemilumine-scence immu noassay and six latex immunoturbidimetric assay detection kits.Results The SAA geometric mean of the immune potency submitted by Chinese laboratory was 56. 3 μg/ampoule[95% confidence interval(CI): 52. 2-60. 6 μg/ampoule, n = 12,geometric coefficient of variation(GCV): 12. 6%], with a median value of 53. 8 μg/ampoule(95% CI: 51. 9-61. 1 μg/ampoule).A total of 17 laboratories from six countries around the world participated in this study. After analysis, the geometric mean of the immune potency of SAA was 60. 9 μg/ampoule(95% CI: 54. 6-67. 9 μg/ampoule, n = 17, GCV: 23. 5%), with a median value of 55. 8 μg/ampoule(95% CI: 52. 0-60. 0 μg/ampoule).Conclusion After reviewed and approved by the World Health Organization(WHO) Expert Committee on Biological Standards, it is proposed that the candidate preparation coded23/148 is established as the 2 nd IS for SAA, with the median(56 μg/ampoule) as the final value. However, the above study data collectively demonstrates that commercial SAA immunoassays are poorly harmonized at the current time. Manufacturers may be adversely impacted as they transition to use 23/148. Recalibration needs to be performed when necessary, to improve the consistency of test results.

Purpose: The optimal sequencing of targeted therapies and the role of primary tumor resection (PTR) in KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) remain unclear. This study compared survival outcomes in patients treated with first-line cetuximab plus FOLFIRI (folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, and irinotecan) versus bevacizumab plus FOLFIRI, followed by second-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy and later-line trifluridine/tipiracil or regorafenib. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database and the Taiwan Cancer Registry. Patients diagnosed with mCRC between 2013 and 2019 were included if they received first-line cetuximab or bevacizumab plus FOLFIRI, followed by later-line trifluridine/tipiracil or regorafenib. Patients were stratified by PTR status. Primary endpoints were overall survival and survival during trifluridine/tipiracil or regorafenib treatment. Secondary endpoints included time to treatment discontinuation (TTD) and TTD during trifluridine/tipiracil or regorafenib therapy. Stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting was used for adjustment. Results: Among 559 patients, 278 were assigned to the non-PTR group and 281 to the PTR group. In the non-PTR group, the cetuximab cohort demonstrated significantly longer survival during trifluridine/tipiracil or regorafenib therapy (6.2 months vs. 4.9 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.72) and longer TTD1 (the interval between initiation of first-line therapy and the start of second-line chemotherapy; 11.8 months vs. 9.5 months; HR, 0.67) than the bevacizumab cohort. Survival differences between regimens were less pronounced among patients who underwent PTR. Conclusion First-line cetuximab plus FOLFIRI may confer a survival advantage over bevacizumab in patients with KRAS wild-type mCRC without PTR, including during later-line therapy with trifluridine/tipiracil or regorafenib, whereas bevacizumab appears to provide more consistent benefits in those with PTR.

Purpose: Metastatic rectal cancer (mRC) is a highly lethal and complex disease that demands a multidisciplinary treatment approach. However, the clinical effectiveness of radiotherapy (RT) for de novo mRC remains controversial and uncertain. Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined medical records from Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital for patients with histologically confirmed de novo mRC diagnosed between January 2015 and December 2020. All patients received standard systemic therapy and radical surgery when feasible. The primary outcome, overall survival (OS), was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable analysis was performed using a Cox regression model. Results: Among 271 patients included in the analysis, 117 received RT and 154 did not. The median OS was significantly longer in the RT group compared with the non-RT group (27.8 months vs. 21.9 months; P=0.046). Multivariate analysis identified several independent predictors of OS: age ≥65 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26–2.27; P=0.001), primary tumor resection (HR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.90–3.61; P<0.001), M1b or M1c disease (HR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.44–2.69; P<0.001), and receipt of RT (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.02–1.94; P=0.036). Conclusion RT significantly improves OS in patients with mRC, underscoring its role in treatment strategies. These findings support its inclusion in therapeutic protocols and highlight the need for larger, multicenter trials to confirm and extend these results.

Objective: To identify early clinical predictors associated with dysphagia and delayed swallowing recovery in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled adult TBI patients admitted to the rehabilitation unit of a tertiary medical center between June 2019 and June 2023. Data on baseline characteristics, neurological status, imaging findings, and rehabilitation-related variables were collected. Swallowing function was assessed using two indicators: (1) nasogastric (NG) tube retention and (2) the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores at 1, 4, and 12 weeks post-injury. Regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors associated with dysphagia and swallowing recovery. Results: A total of 160 patients were included. At 1 week post-injury, longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay, poor initial sitting balance and use of sedative medication in ICU were associated with NG tube retention. At 4 weeks, lower initial Rancho Los Amigos Scale (RLAS) scores, immobility-related complications, longer hospitalization, and temporal lobe hematomas were associated with persistent NG tube dependence. By 12 weeks, older age, delayed ability to follow commands, and poor initial sitting balance remained associated with NG tube retention. FOIS outcomes were also associated with older age, delayed time to follow commands, impaired initial sitting balance, prolonged ICU stay, temporal lobe hematomas, lower initial RLAS scores, immobility-related complications, prolonged endotracheal tube placement and extended hospital stays. Conclusion Impaired cognitive status, poor physical function, immobility-related complications, and temporal lobe hematomas were key factors associated with dysphagia and delayed oral intake in individuals with TBI.

Objective: To compare the effects of eccentric cycling (ECC), concentric cycling (CON), and standard care (CTL) on cardiopulmonary capacity, respiratory health, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: Thirty-one CKD patients were divided into the CTL, CON, and ECC groups. The CON and ECC groups participated in 8-week, 24-session cycling programs. Outcomes were assessed through cardiopulmonary exercise tests, respiratory function tests, and the 36-Item Short Form Survey Instrument questionnaire. Results: The ECC group achieved significant improvements in maximal oxygen uptake, while the CTL group showed a decline. For oxygen uptake efficiency slope, significant changes were observed only in the ECC group, with a group-by-time interaction effect compared to CTL. Furthermore, the ECC group demonstrated the most significant increase in diaphragm movement and a significant increase in diaphragm thickness, with comparisons indicating that ECC outperformed both CTL and CON. Regarding QoL, the ECC group exhibited significantly greater improvements in Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary, with statistically significant differences compared with the CTL and CON groups. Conclusion ECC is a low-effort, high-benefit exercise modality that significantly enhances cardiopulmonary fitness, respiratory function, and QoL in patients with CKD.

Objectives: . Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is a significant cause of hearing loss. Intratympanic steroid injection (ITSI) is commonly used as an initial or salvage treatment; however, the lack of a standardized treatment protocol has resulted in variability in clinical practice. In addition, no efficient prediction model currently exists to support personalized management. Therefore, this study aimed to develop tailored management strategies for ISSNHL using a machine-learning model. Methods: . This retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted between January 2015 and December 2020, with data analysis performed between January 2021 and March 2024. Patients were selected based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision criteria for ISSNHL, along with relevant medication and procedure codes. Patients with pure-tone audiogram results not meeting ISSNHL criteria, better initial hearing in the affected ear, an identifiable etiology, no post-treatment audiogram, or delayed treatment (>6 weeks) were excluded. We included 770 patients diagnosed with ISSNHL who received ITSI. The primary outcome was the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for prediction performance. Recovery status was determined using the last pure-tone audiogram. Modeling was conducted on the Quanta for Medical Care AI platform using five machine-learning algorithms and a nested cross-validation framework, in which feature selection and hyperparameter tuning were performed in the inner folds and model performance was evaluated in the outer folds. Results: . A random forest classifier outperformed the other models in predicting hearing outcomes, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.788. Time to ITSI was the most influential treatment-related factor, with ITSI administered within 10 days of hearing loss being associated with better outcomes. This model can be used to provide personalized prognostic estimates under different treatment protocols. Conclusion . The machine-learning-based prediction model facilitates personalized treatment strategies and timely treatment adjustments for ISSNHL, thereby optimizing the likelihood of complete recovery.

Processed electroencephalogram (EEG) indices, such as the Bispectral Index, have markedly influenced anesthesia practice as they translate brain activity into simple numerical indices. Nevertheless, as the manufacturing algorithms are not disclosed, the underlying neurophysiology remains obscured. Additionally, these indices are often affected by electromyographic contamination, pharmacological variability, and patient-specific EEG heterogeneity. In contrast, an EEG spectrogram, or density spectral array, preserves the frequency- and time-resolved structures of cortical oscillations. This information is presented in a form that is both physiologically meaningful and clinically interpretable. In this review, we trace the evolution of anesthesia from an index-based to a spectrogram-guided approach, and summarize the clinical rationale for adopting the latter. Key applications of this approach include the use of frontal alpha power as a biomarker of cortical stability and postoperative brain health, the identification of nociceptive arousal through alpha dropout and beta or delta arousal patterns, and individualized titration of multimodal or age-specific anesthetic management. Although current devices lack standardized quantitative alpha metrics and have limited sensitivity for low-frequency brain wave components, structured EEG education programs have proven to be effective in terms of fostering spectrogram literacy among anesthesiologists. By combining neurophysiological precision with bedside practicality, the EEG spectrogram represents a pivotal advance toward individualized, mechanism-based, and brain-protective anesthesia, transforming anesthetic monitoring from mere algorithmic abstraction to cortical insight.