BACKGROUND: Meningeal metastasis (MM) is a form of malignant metastasis where tumor cells spread from the primary site to the pia mater, dura mater, arachnoid, subarachnoid space, and other cerebrospinal fluid compartments. Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumor types with MM. MM not only signifies that the lung cancer has progressed to an advanced stage but also leads to a range of severe clinical symptoms due to meningeal involvement. Currently, the risk factors associated with the development of MM are not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for MM in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) who underwent non-surgical interventions, in order to identify LUAD patients at high risk for MM. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of patients diagnosed with LUAD at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to July 2024. Missing data were imputed using multiple imputation methods, and risk factors were identified through LASSO, univariate, and multivariate Logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 170 patients with LUAD were included in this study and divided into two groups: 87 patients with MM and 83 patients without MM. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses revealed that younger age at diagnosis (P=0.004), presence of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) L858R gene mutation (P=0.008), and concurrent liver metastasis at baseline (P=0.004) were independent risk factors for developing MM in LUAD patients who did not undergo surgical intervention. Conversely, higher baseline globulin levels (P=0.039) and the presence of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene mutation (P=0.040) were associated with a reduced risk of MM development. CONCLUSIONS Age at diagnosis, EGFR L858R mutation status, ALK gene mutation status, concurrent liver metastasis, globulin levels at baseline were significantly associated with the risk of developing MM in patients with LUAD patients who did not undergo surgical intervention. For patients diagnosed at a younger age, carrying the EGFR L858R mutation, or presenting with baseline liver metastasis, early implementation of tertiary prevention strategies for MM is crucial. Regular monitoring of MM status should be conducted in these high-risk groups.
Humans ; Male ; Adenocarcinoma of Lung/therapy* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Lung Neoplasms/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged ; Meningeal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Adult

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the leading cause of death globally. HCM can precipitate heart failure (HF) by causing the cardiac tissue to weaken and stretch, thereby impairing its pumping efficiency. Moreover, HCM increases the risk of atrial fibrillation, which in turn elevates the likelihood of thrombus formation and stroke. Given these significant clinical ramifications, research into the etiology and pathogenesis of HCM is intensifying at multiple levels. In this review, we discuss and synthesize the latest findings on HCM pathogenesis, drawing on key experimental studies conducted both in vitro and in vivo. We also offer our insights and perspectives on these mechanisms, while highlighting the limitations of current research. Advancing fundamental research in this area is essential for developing effective therapeutic interventions and enhancing the clinical management of HCM.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Animals

Objective:To investigate the value of gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI combined with T 1 mapping in preoperative prediction of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and glypican-3 (GPC3) positive dual-phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma (DPHCC). Methods:This case-control study included retrospectively enrolled patients with pathologically confirmed HCC from Central People′s Hospital of Zhanjiang (training set, n=85; December 2020 to July 2022) and the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology (test set, n=35; April 2023 to April 2024). Patients were categorized into CK19 and GPC3 positive DPHCC group (training set=19, test set=11) and non-DPHCC group (training set=66, test set=24) based on postoperative immunohistochemical staining. All patients received preoperative MRI scans, including gadoxetate disodium-enhanced imaging and T 1 mapping. Clinical data were collected, qualitative MRI features were evaluated, and quantitative parameters were measured, including signal intensity, T 1 values, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), tumor-to-liver ADC ratio (rADC), tumor-to-liver signal intensity ratio, and T 1 relaxation time reduction rate (ΔT 1%). Statistical comparisons between groups were performed using independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, or χ2 tests. Multivariate logistic regression identified independent predictors of CK19 and GPC3 positive DPHCC, and a combined model was constructed. Predictive performance was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), with DeLong test comparing model performance. Results:Significant intergroup differences were observed in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, DWI target sign, rADC, hepatobiliary-phase T 1 (T 1HBP), and ΔT 1% ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified AFP>20 ng/ml ( OR=5.835, 95% CI 1.019-33.397, P=0.048), DWI target sign ( OR=13.408, 95% CI 2.216-81.131, P=0.005), and ΔT1%≤31% ( OR=14.429, 95% CI 2.166-96.125, P=0.006) as independent predictors of DPHCC. The AUC values of the aforementioned three independent predictors and the combined model for predicting DPHCC were 0.641 (95% CI 0.530-0.742), 0.679 (95% CI 0.569-0.777), 0.740 (95% CI 0.634-0.829), and 0.886 (95% CI 0.799-0.945) in the training set, and 0.568 (95% CI 0.390-0.743), 0.669 (95% CI 0.490-0.818), 0.689 (95% CI 0.511-0.843), and 0.824 (95% CI 0.658-0.931) in the test set, respectively. The DeLong test results showed that in the training set, the diagnostic performance of the combined model was superior to those of the three individual features ( Z=3.68, P<0.001; Z=3.15, P=0.002; Z=3.15, P=0.002). In the test cohort, the combined model demonstrated better diagnostic performance than AFP>20 ng/ml and ΔT 1%≤31% ( Z=2.15, P=0.032; Z=2.12, P=0.034), while no statistically significant difference was observed compared with the DWI target sign ( Z=1.77, P=0.076). Conclusion:The integrated model incorporating clinical data, gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI, and T 1 mapping parameters effectively predicts CK19 and GPC3 positive DPHCC.

Objective:To observe the effect of reconstruction of Achilles insertion with Suture bridge technology after extirpation of avulsed bones block in the treatment of Beavis type Ⅲ avulsion fracture of the calcaneal tuberosity.Methods:The retrospective analysis was used. From January 2013 to January 2023, 78 patients with Beavis type Ⅲ avulsion fracture of the calcaneal tuberosity, treated in the Department 1 of Foot and Ankle and Department 2 of Foot and Ankle of the second Hospital of Tangshan were selected as research objects. According to different operation performed, 41 patients with the reconstruction of Achilles insertion with Suture bridge technology after extirpation of avulsed bones block were divided into the observation group and 37 patients with the open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) were divided into the control group. The delayed wound healing rate and the Haglund malformation rate, Maryland foot score, the American Orthopedic Foot and ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, the pain Visual Analogue Scale/Score (VAS) score, the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score, Arner-Lindholm scale of One-year postoperative were compared between these two groups. The measurement data with normal or approximate normal distribution were analyzed using t test, count data using chi-square test for comparison of between groups.Results:One year after surgery, the incidence of Haglund malformation in the observation group was 4.88% (2/41), which was lower than the control group's 29.73% (11/37). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=8.65,P=0.003). The excellent and good rate of Maryland foot function assessment in the observation group was 85.37% (35/41) higher than that in the control group (56.76% (21/37), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=7.86, P=0.005). The AOFAS ankle hind foot score of the observation group ((90.44±6.66) points) was higher than that of the control group ((82.84±7.43) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=4.77, P<0.001). The pain score of the observation group ((1.51±1.05) points) was lower than that of the control group ((2.95±1.13) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=-5.81, P<0.001). The Achilles tendon score of the observation group ((81.05±5.87) points) was higher than that of the control group ((71.62±8.60) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=5.70, P<0.001). The excellent and good rate of Arner Lindholm treatment efficacy evaluation for Achilles tendon in the observation group was 87.80% (36/41), which was higher than that in the control group (67.57% (25/37)), and the difference between the groups was statistically significant. Conclusion:The treatment of Beavis Ⅲ type calcaneal nodule avulsion fracture by removing the bone fragment can simultaneously remove the hypertrophic osteophyte, hardened bone, and Haglund deformity of the calcaneus, and clean the degenerated Achilles tendon and inflammatory tissue around the insertion point; The use of suture bridge technology to reconstruct the Achilles tendon insertion point has the advantages of high fixed strength, allowing early functional exercise, avoiding secondary removal of internal fixation, and achieving satisfactory therapeutic effects, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective To observe the origin and course of the obturator artery(OA),so as to provide anatomical reference for reducing hemorrhage during pelvic surgery and pubic fracture fixation.Methods A total of 65 human hemi-pelvises specimens with intact structure were dissected to observe the origin,course and other variations of OA.Measure the length of the inner section of OA basin and the outer diameter at the origin,etc.Results OA originated from the internal iliac artery in 57 cases(87.7%),including 3 cases(4.6%)of the superior gluteal artery,5 cases(7.7%)of the inferior gluteal artery,3 cases(4.6%)of the external iliac artery and 5 cases(7.7%)of the inferior epigastric artery.OA participated in the formation of the arterial trunk in 3 cases(4.6%).The length of the pelvic segment of the OA in male and female was(50.87±15.41)mm and(51.71±14.19)mm,respectively,with no statistically significant difference between them(P>0.05).The outer diameters at the origin of the OA in male and female were(2.79±1.05)mm and(2.35±0.86)mm,and there was no statistically significant difference between them(P>0.05).Conclusion OA mainly originated from the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery,with a few OA originated from the branches of the posterior trunk or the inferior epigastric artery,or participated in the formation of the arterial trunk.In pelvic surgery involving OA area,attention should be paid to the length of its pelvic segment and the outer diameter at the origin of OA,so as to better locate and protect blood vessels during surgery.

Lung cancer poses a serious threat to global public health security.Chemotherapy,as the main strategy for cancer treatment,faces challenges such as high toxicity and drug resistance.Anticancer peptides have the potential of being developed into new anticancer drugs due to their advantages of broad-spectrum anticancer activity,rapid action,and difficulty in generating drug resistance,but they also face shortcomings such as weak activity and strong toxic side effects.The weakly acidic microenvironment of tumors(pH 6.5-6.8)provides a good idea for the design of anticancer peptides of high-efficiency and low-toxicity.Previously,we designed the acid-sensitive antibacterial peptide pHly-1 using the wolf spider(Lycosa singoriensis)toxin Lycosin-Ⅰ as a template.In this study,we found that pHly-1 also had acid-sensitive anticancer activity.Further alanine scanning analysis of pHly-1 was carried out,and we ob-tained a mutant pHTP-2 with better acid sensitivity,whose IC50(half maximal inhibitory concentration)against A549 cells was 15.68 μmol/L at pH 6.6 and was greater than 100 μmol/L at pH 7.4.At pH 6.6,pHTP-2 could act on various lung cancer cell lines and induce the death of A549 cells by rapid ly-sis;at pH 7.4,500 μmol/L pHTP-2 had weak toxicity to red blood cells(the hemolysis rate was ap-proximately 38％)and primary myocardial cells(the inhibition rate was 49.7％,with P＜0.05).Analy-sis of its charge,particle size,morphology,and secondary structure showed that at pH 6.6,the histidine in the sequence of pHTP-2 was protonated,increasing the positive charge(P＜0.01),decreasing the hy-drated particle size(P＜0.05)and forming an α-helical structure to induce membrane lysis of A549 cells.At pH 7.4,it was deprotonated,the positive charge decreases,a β-sheet structure was formed and self-aggregation occurred,limiting its effect on the A549 cell membrane and showing weak activity.In summary,pHTP-2 could respond to the weakly acidic microenvironment of tumors to exert selective cyto-toxic activity,effectively overcoming the shortcomings of anticancer peptides such as low efficiency and high toxicity.Our findings suggest that it is a high-quality lead molecule for anticancer drugs.

Objective To observe the origin and course of the obturator artery(OA),so as to provide anatomical reference for reducing hemorrhage during pelvic surgery and pubic fracture fixation.Methods A total of 65 human hemi-pelvises specimens with intact structure were dissected to observe the origin,course and other variations of OA.Measure the length of the inner section of OA basin and the outer diameter at the origin,etc.Results OA originated from the internal iliac artery in 57 cases(87.7%),including 3 cases(4.6%)of the superior gluteal artery,5 cases(7.7%)of the inferior gluteal artery,3 cases(4.6%)of the external iliac artery and 5 cases(7.7%)of the inferior epigastric artery.OA participated in the formation of the arterial trunk in 3 cases(4.6%).The length of the pelvic segment of the OA in male and female was(50.87±15.41)mm and(51.71±14.19)mm,respectively,with no statistically significant difference between them(P>0.05).The outer diameters at the origin of the OA in male and female were(2.79±1.05)mm and(2.35±0.86)mm,and there was no statistically significant difference between them(P>0.05).Conclusion OA mainly originated from the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery,with a few OA originated from the branches of the posterior trunk or the inferior epigastric artery,or participated in the formation of the arterial trunk.In pelvic surgery involving OA area,attention should be paid to the length of its pelvic segment and the outer diameter at the origin of OA,so as to better locate and protect blood vessels during surgery.

Lung cancer poses a serious threat to global public health security.Chemotherapy,as the main strategy for cancer treatment,faces challenges such as high toxicity and drug resistance.Anticancer peptides have the potential of being developed into new anticancer drugs due to their advantages of broad-spectrum anticancer activity,rapid action,and difficulty in generating drug resistance,but they also face shortcomings such as weak activity and strong toxic side effects.The weakly acidic microenvironment of tumors(pH 6.5-6.8)provides a good idea for the design of anticancer peptides of high-efficiency and low-toxicity.Previously,we designed the acid-sensitive antibacterial peptide pHly-1 using the wolf spider(Lycosa singoriensis)toxin Lycosin-Ⅰ as a template.In this study,we found that pHly-1 also had acid-sensitive anticancer activity.Further alanine scanning analysis of pHly-1 was carried out,and we ob-tained a mutant pHTP-2 with better acid sensitivity,whose IC50(half maximal inhibitory concentration)against A549 cells was 15.68 μmol/L at pH 6.6 and was greater than 100 μmol/L at pH 7.4.At pH 6.6,pHTP-2 could act on various lung cancer cell lines and induce the death of A549 cells by rapid ly-sis;at pH 7.4,500 μmol/L pHTP-2 had weak toxicity to red blood cells(the hemolysis rate was ap-proximately 38％)and primary myocardial cells(the inhibition rate was 49.7％,with P＜0.05).Analy-sis of its charge,particle size,morphology,and secondary structure showed that at pH 6.6,the histidine in the sequence of pHTP-2 was protonated,increasing the positive charge(P＜0.01),decreasing the hy-drated particle size(P＜0.05)and forming an α-helical structure to induce membrane lysis of A549 cells.At pH 7.4,it was deprotonated,the positive charge decreases,a β-sheet structure was formed and self-aggregation occurred,limiting its effect on the A549 cell membrane and showing weak activity.In summary,pHTP-2 could respond to the weakly acidic microenvironment of tumors to exert selective cyto-toxic activity,effectively overcoming the shortcomings of anticancer peptides such as low efficiency and high toxicity.Our findings suggest that it is a high-quality lead molecule for anticancer drugs.

Objective:To investigate the value of gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI combined with T 1 mapping in preoperative prediction of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and glypican-3 (GPC3) positive dual-phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma (DPHCC). Methods:This case-control study included retrospectively enrolled patients with pathologically confirmed HCC from Central People′s Hospital of Zhanjiang (training set, n=85; December 2020 to July 2022) and the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology (test set, n=35; April 2023 to April 2024). Patients were categorized into CK19 and GPC3 positive DPHCC group (training set=19, test set=11) and non-DPHCC group (training set=66, test set=24) based on postoperative immunohistochemical staining. All patients received preoperative MRI scans, including gadoxetate disodium-enhanced imaging and T 1 mapping. Clinical data were collected, qualitative MRI features were evaluated, and quantitative parameters were measured, including signal intensity, T 1 values, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), tumor-to-liver ADC ratio (rADC), tumor-to-liver signal intensity ratio, and T 1 relaxation time reduction rate (ΔT 1%). Statistical comparisons between groups were performed using independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, or χ2 tests. Multivariate logistic regression identified independent predictors of CK19 and GPC3 positive DPHCC, and a combined model was constructed. Predictive performance was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), with DeLong test comparing model performance. Results:Significant intergroup differences were observed in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, DWI target sign, rADC, hepatobiliary-phase T 1 (T 1HBP), and ΔT 1% ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified AFP>20 ng/ml ( OR=5.835, 95% CI 1.019-33.397, P=0.048), DWI target sign ( OR=13.408, 95% CI 2.216-81.131, P=0.005), and ΔT1%≤31% ( OR=14.429, 95% CI 2.166-96.125, P=0.006) as independent predictors of DPHCC. The AUC values of the aforementioned three independent predictors and the combined model for predicting DPHCC were 0.641 (95% CI 0.530-0.742), 0.679 (95% CI 0.569-0.777), 0.740 (95% CI 0.634-0.829), and 0.886 (95% CI 0.799-0.945) in the training set, and 0.568 (95% CI 0.390-0.743), 0.669 (95% CI 0.490-0.818), 0.689 (95% CI 0.511-0.843), and 0.824 (95% CI 0.658-0.931) in the test set, respectively. The DeLong test results showed that in the training set, the diagnostic performance of the combined model was superior to those of the three individual features ( Z=3.68, P<0.001; Z=3.15, P=0.002; Z=3.15, P=0.002). In the test cohort, the combined model demonstrated better diagnostic performance than AFP>20 ng/ml and ΔT 1%≤31% ( Z=2.15, P=0.032; Z=2.12, P=0.034), while no statistically significant difference was observed compared with the DWI target sign ( Z=1.77, P=0.076). Conclusion:The integrated model incorporating clinical data, gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI, and T 1 mapping parameters effectively predicts CK19 and GPC3 positive DPHCC.

Objective:To observe the effect of reconstruction of Achilles insertion with Suture bridge technology after extirpation of avulsed bones block in the treatment of Beavis type Ⅲ avulsion fracture of the calcaneal tuberosity.Methods:The retrospective analysis was used. From January 2013 to January 2023, 78 patients with Beavis type Ⅲ avulsion fracture of the calcaneal tuberosity, treated in the Department 1 of Foot and Ankle and Department 2 of Foot and Ankle of the second Hospital of Tangshan were selected as research objects. According to different operation performed, 41 patients with the reconstruction of Achilles insertion with Suture bridge technology after extirpation of avulsed bones block were divided into the observation group and 37 patients with the open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) were divided into the control group. The delayed wound healing rate and the Haglund malformation rate, Maryland foot score, the American Orthopedic Foot and ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, the pain Visual Analogue Scale/Score (VAS) score, the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score, Arner-Lindholm scale of One-year postoperative were compared between these two groups. The measurement data with normal or approximate normal distribution were analyzed using t test, count data using chi-square test for comparison of between groups.Results:One year after surgery, the incidence of Haglund malformation in the observation group was 4.88% (2/41), which was lower than the control group's 29.73% (11/37). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=8.65,P=0.003). The excellent and good rate of Maryland foot function assessment in the observation group was 85.37% (35/41) higher than that in the control group (56.76% (21/37), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=7.86, P=0.005). The AOFAS ankle hind foot score of the observation group ((90.44±6.66) points) was higher than that of the control group ((82.84±7.43) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=4.77, P<0.001). The pain score of the observation group ((1.51±1.05) points) was lower than that of the control group ((2.95±1.13) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=-5.81, P<0.001). The Achilles tendon score of the observation group ((81.05±5.87) points) was higher than that of the control group ((71.62±8.60) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=5.70, P<0.001). The excellent and good rate of Arner Lindholm treatment efficacy evaluation for Achilles tendon in the observation group was 87.80% (36/41), which was higher than that in the control group (67.57% (25/37)), and the difference between the groups was statistically significant. Conclusion:The treatment of Beavis Ⅲ type calcaneal nodule avulsion fracture by removing the bone fragment can simultaneously remove the hypertrophic osteophyte, hardened bone, and Haglund deformity of the calcaneus, and clean the degenerated Achilles tendon and inflammatory tissue around the insertion point; The use of suture bridge technology to reconstruct the Achilles tendon insertion point has the advantages of high fixed strength, allowing early functional exercise, avoiding secondary removal of internal fixation, and achieving satisfactory therapeutic effects, which is worthy of clinical promotion.