Objective:To investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal cancer receiving first-line chemoimmunotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 137 patients with Stage Ⅳ esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated at our hospital from January 2018 to May 2023. These patients were divided into two groups: a group treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy combined with radiotherapy (chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group, n = 43) and a group treated with only chemoimmunotherapy ( n = 94). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to balance baseline characteristics between the groups. With overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as study endpoints, the survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and the Cox regression method. Results:Before calibration, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group significantly outperformed the sole chemoimmunotherapy group in median PFS (13.6 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.501, 95% CI: 0.309-0.811, P = 0.005). After calibration using the COX proportional-hazards model for age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, smoking history, T/N/M stage, and tumor location, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group still had significant advantages in PFS (14.7 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.441, 95% CI: 0.261-0.745, P = 0.002). IPTW analysis further confirmed this trend (13.9 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.492, 95% CI: 0.304-0.795, P < 0.001). Specifically, the median OS of the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group demonstrated significant improvement in all analyses: pre-calibration (29.5 months vs. 18.0 months; HR: 0.507, 95% CI: 0.297-0.867, P = 0.013), after calibration using the Cox model (27.5 months vs. 16.7 months; HR: 0.470, 95% CI: 0.266-0.830, P = 0.009), and after calibration using IPTW (29.5 months vs. 16.9 months; HR: 0.448, 95% CI: 0.262-0.764, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The combination of radiotherapy and first-line chemoimmunotherapy can significantly improve survival outcomes of patients with advanced ESCC, suggesting its potential as a standard treatment strategy.

Objective To explore the mechanism of modified Sijunzi Decoction in the intervention of premature ovarian failure(POF)rats through PTEN-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.Methods Totally 50 SPF-grade healthy female SD rats were divided into normal group(10 rats)and model group(40 rats).The model group was injected with cyclophosphamide to establish a POF model,and then randomly divided into model group and TCM low-,medium-and high-dosage group,with 10 rats in each group,TCM low-,medium-and high-dosage group were given modified Sijunzi Decoction 6.3,12.6,25.2 g/kg by gavage,the normal group and model group were given equal volume of normal saline,once a day for 28 days.The general condition and body mass of rats in each group were observed and recorded daily.After administration,the ovarian index was measured,HE staining was used to observe the morphology of ovarian tissue,ELISA was used to detect the contents of serum estradiol(E2)luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH),gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH)and β-endorphin(β-EP),RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of PTEN,PI3K and AKT in ovarian tissue,Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of PTEN,PI3K,AKT,p-PI3K and p-AKT,immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of PTEN,PI3K and AKT.Results Compared with the normal group,the rats in the model group were depressed,the hair fell off,the diet and drinking water were reduced,the stools became thinner,the body mass was reduced(P<0.05),and the ovarian index was reduced(P<0.05),the ovarian tissue structure was disordered,the number of follicles decreased,and the contents of serum LH,FSH and GnRH increased(P<0.05),the contents of E2,AMH and β-EP decreased(P<0.05),the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein decreased(P<0.05),the expressions of PI3K and AKT mRNA and protein increased(P<0.05),and the expressions of p-PI3K and p-AKT protein increased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the general condition of rats in each dosage of TCM groups improved significantly,the body mass increased(P<0.05),ovarian index increased(P<0.05),the number of follicles in rat ovarian tissue increased,the contents of LH,FSH and GnRH decreased(P<0.05),the contents of E2,AMH and β-EP increased(P<0.05),the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein increased(P<0.05),the expression of PI3K and AKT mRNA and protein decreased(P<0.05),and the protein expression of p-PI3K and p-AKT decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion Modified Sijunzi Decoction may regulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway mediated by PTEN,repair the excessive consumption of follicles in ovarian tissue of POF rats,improve the ovarian function,so as to intervene the process of POF.

Objective: To conduct a scoping review on the types, construction methods and predictive performance of health literacy prediction models based on machine learning methods, so as to provide the reference for the improvement and application of such models. Methods: Publications on health literacy prediction models conducted using machine learning methods were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, PubMed and Web of Science from inception to May 1, 2024. The quality of literature was assessed using the Prediction Model Risk of Bias ASsessment Tool. Basic characteristics, modeling methods, data sources, missing value handling, predictors and predictive performance were reviewed. Results: A total of 524 publications were retrieved, and 22 publications between 2007 and 2024 were finally enrolled. Totally 48 health literacy prediction models were involved, and 25 had a high risk of bias (52.08%), with major issues focusing on missing value handling, predictor selection and model evaluation methods. Modeling methods included regression models, tree-based machine learning methods, support vector machines and neural network models. Predictors primarily encompassed factors at four aspects: individual, interpersonal, organizational and society/policy aspects, with age, educational level, economic status, health status and internet use appearing frequently. Internal validation was conducted in 14 publications, and external validation was conducted in 4 publications. Forty-two models reported the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve, which ranged from 0.52 to 0.983, indicating good discrimination. Conclusion Health literacy prediction models based on machine learning methods perform well, but have deficiencies in risk of bias, data processing and validation.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal cancer receiving first-line chemoimmunotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 137 patients with Stage Ⅳ esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated at our hospital from January 2018 to May 2023. These patients were divided into two groups: a group treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy combined with radiotherapy (chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group, n = 43) and a group treated with only chemoimmunotherapy ( n = 94). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to balance baseline characteristics between the groups. With overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as study endpoints, the survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and the Cox regression method. Results:Before calibration, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group significantly outperformed the sole chemoimmunotherapy group in median PFS (13.6 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.501, 95% CI: 0.309-0.811, P = 0.005). After calibration using the COX proportional-hazards model for age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, smoking history, T/N/M stage, and tumor location, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group still had significant advantages in PFS (14.7 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.441, 95% CI: 0.261-0.745, P = 0.002). IPTW analysis further confirmed this trend (13.9 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.492, 95% CI: 0.304-0.795, P < 0.001). Specifically, the median OS of the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group demonstrated significant improvement in all analyses: pre-calibration (29.5 months vs. 18.0 months; HR: 0.507, 95% CI: 0.297-0.867, P = 0.013), after calibration using the Cox model (27.5 months vs. 16.7 months; HR: 0.470, 95% CI: 0.266-0.830, P = 0.009), and after calibration using IPTW (29.5 months vs. 16.9 months; HR: 0.448, 95% CI: 0.262-0.764, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The combination of radiotherapy and first-line chemoimmunotherapy can significantly improve survival outcomes of patients with advanced ESCC, suggesting its potential as a standard treatment strategy.

Objective To explore the mechanism of modified Sijunzi Decoction in the intervention of premature ovarian failure(POF)rats through PTEN-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.Methods Totally 50 SPF-grade healthy female SD rats were divided into normal group(10 rats)and model group(40 rats).The model group was injected with cyclophosphamide to establish a POF model,and then randomly divided into model group and TCM low-,medium-and high-dosage group,with 10 rats in each group,TCM low-,medium-and high-dosage group were given modified Sijunzi Decoction 6.3,12.6,25.2 g/kg by gavage,the normal group and model group were given equal volume of normal saline,once a day for 28 days.The general condition and body mass of rats in each group were observed and recorded daily.After administration,the ovarian index was measured,HE staining was used to observe the morphology of ovarian tissue,ELISA was used to detect the contents of serum estradiol(E2)luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH),gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH)and β-endorphin(β-EP),RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of PTEN,PI3K and AKT in ovarian tissue,Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of PTEN,PI3K,AKT,p-PI3K and p-AKT,immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of PTEN,PI3K and AKT.Results Compared with the normal group,the rats in the model group were depressed,the hair fell off,the diet and drinking water were reduced,the stools became thinner,the body mass was reduced(P<0.05),and the ovarian index was reduced(P<0.05),the ovarian tissue structure was disordered,the number of follicles decreased,and the contents of serum LH,FSH and GnRH increased(P<0.05),the contents of E2,AMH and β-EP decreased(P<0.05),the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein decreased(P<0.05),the expressions of PI3K and AKT mRNA and protein increased(P<0.05),and the expressions of p-PI3K and p-AKT protein increased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the general condition of rats in each dosage of TCM groups improved significantly,the body mass increased(P<0.05),ovarian index increased(P<0.05),the number of follicles in rat ovarian tissue increased,the contents of LH,FSH and GnRH decreased(P<0.05),the contents of E2,AMH and β-EP increased(P<0.05),the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein increased(P<0.05),the expression of PI3K and AKT mRNA and protein decreased(P<0.05),and the protein expression of p-PI3K and p-AKT decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion Modified Sijunzi Decoction may regulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway mediated by PTEN,repair the excessive consumption of follicles in ovarian tissue of POF rats,improve the ovarian function,so as to intervene the process of POF.

Objective:This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with lung adenocarcinoma and to construct a predictive model for assessing their survival.Methods:We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data sourced from the SEER database for patients aged 60 years or older who were diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma between 2013 and 2018.Cox regression analysis was employed to identify independent prognostic factors affecting the survival of elderly lung adenocarcinoma patients, leading to the development of a nomogram model.The discriminative ability and calibration of the nomogram were assessed using the C-index and calibration curve.Each patient's total risk score was calculated based on the predictive model, and patients were stratified according to the quartiles of their total risk scores.The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were utilized to evaluate survival differences among the identified risk groups.Results:Among 38, 852 lung adenocarcinoma patients, 17, 200 were males and 21, 652 were females.Significant differences in survival rates were observed among lung adenocarcinoma patients based on age, gender, marital status, histological grade, TNM stage, tumor size, and the presence of bone, brain, or liver metastases, as well as the type of treatment received, including surgical treatment, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy(all P<0.001).The C-index of the training model was 0.815(95% CI: 0.811-0.819), while the validation model yielded a C-index of 0.810(95% CI: 0.804-0.816).The prediction model demonstrated higher Area Under Curve(AUC)values of 0.746, 0.768, and 0.775 for 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival in the modeling dataset, respectively, and 0.747, 0.770, and 0.777 in the validation dataset.Furthermore, the risk stratification model effectively distinguished patients at varying levels of risk( P<0.001). Conclusions:Age, gender, marital status, histological grade, TNM stage, tumor size, and the presence of bone, brain, and liver metastases, along with treatment modalities such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, were identified as independent prognostic factors for elderly patients with lung adenocarcinoma.The risk prediction model developed in this study effectively differentiates between patients at varying levels of risk, which holds significant implications for predicting treatment responses in elderly lung adenocarcinoma patients and advancing the practice of precision medicine.

Objective:To investigate the effects of recombinant human metallothionein-Ⅲ (rh-MT-Ⅲ) combined with wound dressing on wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in mice.Methods:This study was an experimental study. Twenty-four half male and half female 6 weeks old Institute of Cancer Research mice were taken, and two symmetrical round full-thickness skin defect wounds were prepared on the back of each mouse. The mice were stratified and randomly divided into normal saline group, dressing group, rh-MT-Ⅲgroup (applying the corresponding solution on the wounds), and combined treatment group (applying a mixture of rh-MT-Ⅲ and wound dressing on the wounds) according to sex and body weight, with 6 mice in each group. From 1 to 7 d after injury, all mice were observed daily for changes in activity, diet, and fur growth, their body weights and wound areas were recorded, and the relative wound area percentages were calculated. On 7 d after injury, the wound tissue of mice was taken for hematoxylin-eosin staining to observe the newborn granulation tissue, for Masson staining to observe collagen fiber formation, and for immunofluorescence staining to detect cell proliferation (denoted as Ki67 relative fluorescence intensity) and cell apoptosis (denoted as TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) relative fluorescence intensity). The sample size in the above experiments was 6.Results:There were no abnormalities in activity, diet, or fur growth in the 4 groups of mice within 7 d after injury. There were no statistically significant differences in the overall comparison of the body weights of mice in the 4 groups from 1 to 7 d after injury ( P>0.05). The relative wound area percentages of mice in combined treatment group were significantly lower than those in normal saline group and rh-MT-Ⅲ group on 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 d after injury ( P<0.05), and the relative wound area percentages of mice in combined treatment group were significantly lower than those in dressing group on 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 d after injury ( P<0.05). The relative wound area percentages of mice in dressing group on 6 and 7 d after injury and in rh-MT-Ⅲ group on 7 d after injury were significantly lower than those in normal saline group ( P<0.05). On 7 d after injury, a large number of capillaries and fibroblasts could be seen in wound tissue of mice in combined treatment group, and the growth of new epithelial tissue at the upper edge of the wound was better than that of the other three groups; the collagen fibers in the wound tissue of mice in combined treatment group had higher degree of density and arrangement in a more orderly manner than those of the other three groups. On 7 d after injury, the Ki67 relative fluorescence intensity in the wound tissue of mice in dressing group, rh-MT-Ⅲ group, and combined treatment group was (289±35)%, (197±17)%, and (389±56)%, which was significantly higher than (100±15)% in normal saline group, respectively ( P<0.05), and the Ki67 relative fluorescence intensity in the wound tissue of mice in combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in dressing group and rh-MT-Ⅲ group, respectively (with both P values <0.05). On 7 d after injury, the TUNEL relative fluorescence intensity in the wound tissue of mice in dressing group, rh-MT-Ⅲ group, and combined treatment group was (55.5±5.7)%, (66.7±8.0)%, and (20.0±2.2)%, which was significantly lower than (100.0±12.9)% in normal saline group, respectively ( P<0.05), and the TUNEL relative fluorescence intensity in the wound tissue of mice in combined treatment group was significantly lower than that in dressing group and rh-MT-Ⅲ group, respectively (with both P values <0.05). Conclusions:rh-MT-Ⅲ combined with wound dressing can promote the growth of granulation tissue around the wound as well as collagen deposition, increase the cell proliferation vitality, reduce cell apoptosis, and promote the re-epithelialization of skin at the edge of the wounds, thus accelerating the healing of full-thickness skin defect wounds in mice.

Objective To observe the value of shear wave elastography(SWE),superb microvascular imaging(SMI)and their combination with conventional ultrasound for diagnosing cervical cancer.Methods Data of 178 patients with cervical lesion confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into malignant group(n=32)and benign group(n=146),and those in benign group were further divided into low-grade or high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia subgroups,cervical leiomyosarcoma subgroup,cervical polyps subgroup and cervicitis subgroup.The manifestations of lesion on conventional ultrasound,SWE and SMI were observed,and the mean value of Young's modulus(Emean)and SMI flow index(Ratio)were collected.The optimal cut-off value of SWE Emean and SMI Ratio were obtained with receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,and the classification of benign or malignant lesions were predicted.The consistency of predictive results and pathology results were assessed with the Kappa test.The diagnostic efficacies of conventional ultrasound,SWE and SMI alone and their combination were compared.Results The age of patients in malignant group was higher than that in benign group(P＜0.05).SWE Emean and SMI Ratio were both higher in malignant group than those in each benign subgroup(all P＜0.05).Taken 44.35 kPa and 3.95％ as the best cut-off values,the consistency of SWE Emean classification results and pathological results was good(Kappa=0.818),while of SMI Ratio was moderate(Kappa=0.453).The efficacy of conventional ultrasound,SWE and SMI alone for classifying benign and malignant cervical lesions(AUC=0.845,0.914,0.892)were all higher than that of their combination(AUC=0.806,all adjusted P＜0.05).The sensitivity of SWE and SMI for diagnosing cervical cancer was 90.60％ and 93.78％ respectively,with specificity of 95.20％ and 72.60％,respectively.Conclusion SWE hag higher efficacy for diagnosing cervical cancer,while SMI had better sensitivity but lower specificity.Combination of conventional ultrasound,SWE and SWI did not increase the efficacy of ultrasound for diagnosing cervical cancer.

Abstract Health literate schools (HeLit-Schools) play a significant role in fostering students health literacy. The paper elucidates the background and conceptual connotations of HeLit-Schools, and analyzes how HeLit-Schools effectively integrate and enhance the health literacy of schools in three aspects: philosophy and core drivers, strategy and method implementation, as well as evaluation mechanisms and standard setting. Furthermore, the paper explores the implications of foreign HeLit-Schools research and practice for China under the context of "Healthy China" construction, as well as the key strategies for Chinese schools in the implementation of HeLit-Schools, aiming to provide a new perspective and theoretical support for Chinese schools to practice the "Healthy China initiative" and strengthen school construction from the perspective of health literacy.

Abstract As dietary issues of children and adolescents become increasingly complex, the assessment of food literacy (FL) is increasingly importance. FL involves a comprehensive cognition and practical ability concerning food among children, playing a key role in fostering healthy eating habits and improving health levels. The article explores the definition and connotations of FL, and introduces eight FL assessment tools in terms of theoretical foundations, dimensions, assessment methods, and their reliability and validity. Moreover, it provides a comparative analysis of these tools by examining their dimensional design, evaluation indicators, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as their applicable subjects and scenarios, aiming to offer references for implementing relevant policies and developing more comprehensive and effective FL assessment tools.