OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of tracking methodology on investigation of contamination incidents of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)specimens from the children.METHODS The onsite tracking was carried out for the contamination incidents of BALF specimens of the children through the tracking methodology,the quality control processes of cleaning and disinfection of bronchofiberscopes and the tracking routes were determined.The quality control process of cleaning and disinfection of bronchofiberscopes were evaluated,the existing risks were found out,and the specific improvement measures were formulated.RESULTS The onsite tracking was carried out for the incident of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)that was caused by the contamination of 12 BALF specimens from pediatrics department wards before and after Nov.1,2021.No.2180014C bronchofiber-scope without biological surveillance was determined as the high-risk point of contamination of BALF specimens,the monitoring procedure of cleaning and disinfection of the bronchofiberscopes was revised.The BALF specimens that were submitted from Dec.1,2021 to Dec.31,2021 were tracked,and no CRKP was detected among the 23 submitted specimens.Totally 12 bronchofiberscope specimens were collected for biological surveillance,and the qualified rate was 100.00％.The treatment rooms of pediatrics department,hand disinfection effect of health care workers of cleaning and disinfection rooms and disinfection effect of object surfaces were monitored,and the quali-fied rate was increased from 98.39％to 100.00％.CONCLUSIONS The tracking methodology is an effective tool for quality management and can be used for evaluation of quality process of cleaning and disinfection of bronchofi-berscopes,which may find out the causes for adverse events in a timely manner and raise the medical safety.

Transcatheter arterial embolization(TAE)is the mainstay for treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and the performance of the embolization material is crucial in TAE.With the development of medical imaging and the birth of"X-ray-free"technologies,we designed a new dual-mode imaging material of dimethoxy tetraphenyl ethylene(DMTPE)via emulsification by mixing poly(N-iso-propylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid)(PNA)with lipiodol and fluorocarbons,which was evaluated for temperature sensitivity,stability,and dual-mode visualization in vitro.Additionally,blood vessel casting embolization and renal artery imaging were assessed in healthy rabbits.In a rabbit model with a VX2 tumor,the effectiveness of TAE for treating HCC was examined,with an emphasis on evaluating long-term outcomes of embolization and its effects on tumor growth,necrosis,and proliferation through imaging techniques.In vitro experiments confirmed that the temperature-sensitive dual-oil-phase Pickering emulsion had good flow,stable contrast,and embolism when the oil-to-oil ratio and water-to-oil ratio were both 7∶3(v/v)and stabilized with 8％PNA.Similarly,in vivo,arterial embolization confirmed the excellent properties of DMTPE prepared at the abovementioned ratios.It was observed that DMTPE not only has an antitumor effect but can also achieve dual imaging using X-rays and ultrasound,making it a promising excellent vascular embolization material for TAE in tumor treatment.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Qingda Granules(QDG)for alleviating brain damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs).Methods Twelve 5-week-old SHRs were randomized into SHR control group and SHR+QDG group treated with QDG by gavage at the daily dose of 0.9 g/kg for 12 weeks.The control rats,along with 6 age-matched WKY rats,were treated with saline only.Blood pressure changes of the rats were monitored,and pathologies and neuronal apoptosis in the cerebral cortex were examined with HE staining and TUNEL staining.Cerebral cortical expressions of miR-124 and STAT3 mRNA were detected using RT-qPCR,and the protein expressions of NeuN,STAT3,Bcl-2,Bax,and cleaved caspase-3 were detected with immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.In a HT22 cell model of oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R),the effects of QDG on cell viability and apoptosis,expressions of miR-124 and STAT3 mRNA,and protein expressions of STAT3,Bcl-2,Bax,and cleaved caspase-3 were evaluated using CCK8 assay,Hoechst 33342 staining,RT-qPCR,and Western blotting.Results Compared with WKY rats,SHRs had significantly elevated systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure with significantly increased neuronal apoptosis in the cerebral cortex,reduced expressions of NeuN,miR-124 and Bcl-2,and enhanced expressions of STAT3,Bax and cleaved caspase-3(P＜0.05).All these changes in the SHRs were significantly ameliorated by treatment with QDG(P＜0.05).In the HT22 cell model,QDG treatment obviously reduced OGD/R-induced cell apoptosis,increased the expressions of miR-124 and Bcl-2,and suppressed the elevation of protein expressions of STAT3,Bax and cleaved caspase-3.Conclusion QDG inhibits cerebral cortical neuronal apoptosis and thereby attenuates brain damage in SHR rats by modulating the miR-124/STAT3 signaling axis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia Type 2D (PCH2D) due to compound heterozygous variants of the SEPSECS gene and to conduct a literature review. METHODS: A child with PCH2D diagnosed at the Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University due to "motor and cognitive retardation" in June 2022 was selected as the study subject. Clinical and imaging data were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples of the child and her parents. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was conducted using capture-based high-throughput sequencing technology. Candidate variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The pathogenicity of variant was rated according to the Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants released by American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Additionally, relevant literature on PCH2D caused by SEPSECS gene variants was reviewed to assess the genotype-phenotype correlation. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital (Ethical No.: 202402022-1). RESULTS: The child, a 1-year-and-3-month-old girl, had presented with global developmental delay, progressive microcephaly, hypotonia, elevated blood lactic acid, feeding difficulties, and absent tendon reflexes. Cranial MRI indicated thinning of the splenium of the corpus callosum. Electromyography suggested peripheral neurogenic changes primarily affecting sensory nerves. WES revealed the she has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the SEPSECS gene, namely c.194A>G (p.N65S) and c.896_c.897insA (p.N299fs*2) (NM_016955), which were inherited from her father and mother, respectively. Neither of her parents had related clinical manifestations. According to the ACMG guidelines, the c.194A>G (p.N65S) variant was classified as pathogenic (PM1+PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP3), and the c.896_c.897insA (p.N299fs*2) variant was as likely pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting). A total of 18 relevant literature were retrieved, which have involved 32 patients (including this case). The p.N65S variant has been reported previously, while the p.N299fs*2 variant is novel. CONCLUSION Compound heterozygous variants in the SEPSECS gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of PCH2D in this child. Above finding has expanded the mutational and phenotypic spectrum of the SEPSECS gene.
Humans ; Female ; Infant ; Heterozygote ; Cerebellar Diseases/genetics* ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing ; Mutation

BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

Recent advances in large models demonstrate significant prospects for transforming the field of medical imaging. These models, including large language models, large visual models, and multimodal large models, offer unprecedented capabilities in processing and interpreting complex medical data across various imaging modalities. By leveraging self-supervised pretraining on vast unlabeled datasets, cross-modal representation learning, and domain-specific medical knowledge adaptation through fine-tuning, large models can achieve higher diagnostic accuracy and more efficient workflows for key clinical tasks. This review summarizes the concepts, methods, and progress of large models in medical imaging, highlighting their potential in precision medicine. The article first outlines the integration of multimodal data under large model technologies, approaches for training large models with medical datasets, and the need for robust evaluation metrics. It then explores how large models can revolutionize applications in critical tasks such as image segmentation, disease diagnosis, personalized treatment strategies, and real-time interactive systems, thus pushing the boundaries of traditional imaging analysis. Despite their potential, the practical implementation of large models in medical imaging faces notable challenges, including the scarcity of high-quality medical data, the need for optimized perception of imaging phenotypes, safety considerations, and seamless integration with existing clinical workflows and equipment. As research progresses, the development of more efficient, interpretable, and generalizable models will be critical to ensuring their reliable deployment across diverse clinical environments. This review aims to provide insights into the current state of the field and provide directions for future research to facilitate the broader adoption of large models in clinical practice.
Humans ; Diagnostic Imaging/methods* ; Precision Medicine/methods* ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*

This study aims to investigate the effects of renin inhibitor aliskiren on kidney injury in human angiotensinogen-renin (AGT-REN) double transgenic hypertensive (dTH) mice and explore its possible mechanism. The dTH mice were divided into hypertension group (HT group) and aliskiren intervention group (HT+Aliskiren group), while wild-type C57BL/6 mice were served as the control group (WT group). Blood pressure data of mice in HT+Aliskiren group were collected after 28 d of subcutaneous penetration of aliskiren (20 mg/kg), and the damage of renal tissue structure and collagen deposition were observed by HE, Masson and PAS staining. The ultrastructure of kidney was observed by transmission electron microscope. Coomassie bright blue staining and biochemical analyzer were used to detect renal function injury. The expression of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was determined by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in kidney were determined by chemiluminescence method. The content of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase subunit p47^phox, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) were detected by Western blot analysis. The results showed that compared with WT group, the blood pressure of mice in HT group was significantly increased. The renal tissue structure in HT group showed glomerular sclerosis, severe interstitial tubular injury, and increased collagen deposition. In addition, 24 h urinary protein, serum creatinine and urea levels increased. Serum and renal tissue levels of angiotensin II (Ang II) were increased, serum angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] expression was decreased, and renal Ang-(1-7) expression was elevated. The expressions of ACE, Ang II type 1 receptor (AT₁R) and MasR in renal tissue were increased, while the expression of ACE2 was decreased. MDA content increased, SOD content decreased, and the expressions of p47^phox, iNOS, 3-NT, NOX2 and NOX4 were increased. However, aliskiren reduced blood pressure in dTH mice, improved renal structure and renal function, reduced Ang II and Ang-(1-7) levels in serum and renal tissue, reduced the expression of ACE and AT₁R in renal tissue, increased the expression of ACE2 and MasR in renal tissue, and decreased the above levels of oxidative stress indexes in dTH mice. These results suggest that aliskiren may play a protective role in hypertensive renal injury by regulating the balance between ACE-Ang II-AT₁R and ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-MasR axes and inhibiting oxidative stress.
Animals ; Fumarates/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Renin/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Amides/therapeutic use* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Hypertension/physiopathology* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Kidney/pathology* ; Angiotensinogen/genetics* ; Renin-Angiotensin System/drug effects* ; NADPH Oxidases/metabolism* ; Male ; Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; NADPH Oxidase 4

The escalating phenomenon of global population aging is posing multi-dimensional challenges to society, the economy and medical healthcare system.Among the significant health threats to the elderly population are cardiovascular diseases(CVD)and cognitive frailty(CF), both of which profoundly affect the quality of life and increase the risks of adverse health outcomes, including disability, hospitalization, and death.The concurrent presence of CVD and CF in elderly patients is prevalent, as these conditions share many common risk factors and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, such as atherosclerosis, microcirculation dysfunction, and inflammation, which interact to perpetuate a vicious cycle.Notably, CF exhibits a certain degree of reversibility; thus, the implementation of a diagnosis and treatment paradigm that incorporates "comprehensive geriatric assessment and geriatric interdisciplinary teams" should be established as a conventional management strategy for elderly patients affected by both CVD and CF.Cognitive digital therapeutics, along with personalized exercise prescriptions based on cardiopulmonary exercise tests, may represent more appropriate precision interventions for these patients.Consequently, there is a necessity for further in-depth research in this area moving forward.

Objective:To explore the clinical application of mobile-intelligent medical management system for gout patients.Methods:This study was a randomized controlled trial. One hundred and two patients with gout who visited rheumatology department of the First Hospital of Jilin University from January 2022 to October 2023 were randomly divided into study group ( n=53) and the control group ( n=49). Patients in the study group were managed by the mobil-gout(M-G) health management system which consists of a distant management plateform and an App. The body weight and blood uric acid levels were regularly self-tested by patients, and the information was sent to the system, the doctor gave feed-back advice on medication adjustment and dietary management every 2 weeks. While patients in the control group were managed following the conventional outpatient consultation mode. The serum uric acid levels, liver and kidney function tests and physical examinations were conducted on the day of enrollment and 3 and 6 months after treatment. The number of affected joints and the frequency of attacks were evaluated, and pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). The efficacy of treatment were compared between two groups. Results:After 3 and 6 months of treatment, the serum uric acid levels in study group were significantly lower than those in control group (408.0 (345.0, 450.0)μmol/L vs. 458.0 (409.0, 482.0)μmol/L, 371.0 (338.5, 409.0) μmol/L vs. 412.0 (368.5, 445.0)μmol/L; Z=3.37, 4.61, P<0.01); and VAS scores were also significantly lower than those in control group (6.66±1.46 vs. 4.68±1.80, 7.45±1.06 vs. 5.88±1.52; t=14.12, 13.72, P<0.01). After 6 months of treatment, the frequency of gout attacks in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group ( χ2=9.30, P<0.05). As the follow-up period was extended, the average number of joints affected by gout attacks and the frequency of gout attacks in the study group showed a reducing trend compared to the control group, but the differences were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The M-G medical management system can more effectively control uric acid levels and alleviate symptome for gout patients.