Objective To explore the application of plasma 7 microRNA (miR7) testing in the differential diagnosis of very early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods This study is a multicenter real-world study. Patients with single hepatic lesion (maximum diameter≤2 cm) who underwent plasma miR7 testing at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital, and Peking University People’s Hospital between January 2019 and December 2024 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into very early-stage HCC group and non-HCC group, and the clinical pathological characteristics of the two groups were compared. The value of plasma miR7 levels, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in the differential diagnosis of very early-stage HCC was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC). In patients with both negative AFP and DCP (AFP＜20 ng/mL, DCP＜40 mAU/mL), the diagnostic value of plasma miR7 for very early-stage HCC was analyzed. Results A total of 64 528 patients from 4 hospitals underwent miR7 testing, and 1 682 were finally included, of which 1 073 were diagnosed with very early-stage HCC and 609 were diagnosed with non-HCC. The positive rate of miR7 in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in non-HCC patients (67.9% vs 24.3%, P＜0.001). ROC curves showed that the AUCs for miR7, AFP, and DCP in distinguishing HCC patients from the non-HCC individuals were 0.718, 0.682, and 0.642, respectively. The sensitivities were 67.85%, 43.71%, and 44.45%, and the specificities were 75.70%, 92.78%, and 83.91%, respectively. The pairwise comparison of AUCs showed that the diagnostic efficacy of plasma miR7 detection was significantly better than that of AFP or DCP (P＜0.05). Although its specificity was slightly lower than AFP and DCP, the sensitivity was significantly higher. Among patients negative for both AFP and DCP, miR7 maintained an AUC of 0.728 for diagnosing very early-stage HCC, with 67.82% sensitivity and 77.73% specificity. Conclusions Plasma miR7 testing is a potential molecular marker with high sensitivity and specificity for the differential diagnosis of small hepatic nodules. In patients with very early-stage HCC lacking effective molecular markers (negative for both AFP and DCP), miR7 can serve as a novel and effective molecular marker to assist diagnosis.

Screening and evaluating the diseases responding specifically to traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） will help to highlight the advantages of TCM treatment， and the evaluation method should be standardized with consideration to the unique characteristics of the diseases. The incidence of Sjögren's Syndrome （SS） is increasing year by year， while the pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear. Modern therapies for this disease include biological agents and immunosuppressants， which generally have unsatisfactory efficacy. The TCM treatment of SS focuses on the harmony of the physical and mental health. The Rheumatology Branch of the China Association of Chinese Medicine organizes experts in TCM， Western medicine， and evidence-based medicine to form working groups. Delphi method and bibliometric method were used for analysis， and SS was selected as a disease responding specifically to TCM. Furthermore， the evaluation system was established for this disease， and the consensus regarding this disease was reached after seminar discussion. This paper summarized the whole process of the evaluation of the advantages of TCM treatment of SS. First， because TCM atomization is widely used in clinical practice and enriches TCM administration methods， this therapy is included after other non-drug therapies were taken as characteristic therapies. Second， the evaluation indicators of therapeutic effect should be determined with consideration to international acceptance and the current research status. Third， the expression method should be accurate， standardized， and objective， highlight the natural advantages of TCM， and avoid arbitrary extension. This paper provides a reference for clinicians to explore other diseases responding specifically to TCM.

Objective:To investigate the application value of fecal Syndecan-2 (SDC2) gene methylated SDC2 (m SDC2) detection in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among urban residents in Guangzhou City. Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shitan Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou City from July to December 2022. A community-based screening program for CRC was conducted among residents aged 40-74 years old. m SDC2 detection was employed in the participants, and those with positive results should be recommended to receive colonoscopy examination. The positive rate of m SDC2 detection, colonoscopy compliance rate, detection rate of intestinal lesions and clinicopathological characteristics were observed. The relationship between cycle threshold (CT) value of m SDC2 and intestinal lesions was explored. Further, the cost-effectiveness of screening was evaluated. Results:A total of 8 189 fecal samples were collected from 8 877 participants with the recovery rate of 92.25%. 8 048 qualified samples were enrolled in this study, consisted of 3 182 males (39.54%) and 4 866 females (60.46%), with the average age of 56 years old (40-74 years). The positive rate of m SDC2 detection was 7.99% (643/8 048), and the compliance rate of colonoscopy was 73.10% (470/643). 20 cases (4.25%) of colorectal cancer, 109 cases (23.19%) of advanced adenoma, 145 cases (30.85%) of non-advanced adenoma, 79 cases (16.81%) of polyps were detected. The detection rate of intestinal lesions was 75.11% and indicated significant differences in gender and age. 20 CRCs included 15 of stage 0-I, 4 of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ and 1 of unknown stage. The CT value of m SDC2 was negatively correlated with the proportion of advanced colorectal neoplasms ( χ2=16.063, P<0.001). The total cost of the screening was 4.339 5 million yuan, the screening benefit was 28.506 2 million yuan, and the benefit-cost ratio was 6.57. Conclusion:The CRC screening strategy of fecal m SDC2 detection combined with colonoscopy has high colonoscopy compliance and detection rate of intestinal lesions, which is conducive to the detection of early CRCs, and has good cost-effectiveness. This study suggests that this method may be applied to the general CRC screening in China and contribute to the prevention of CRC. The CT value of m SDC2 may have a certain suggestion on the malignant degree of intestinal tumors.

Objective:To investigate the application value of fecal Syndecan-2 (SDC2) gene methylated SDC2 (m SDC2) detection in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among urban residents in Guangzhou City. Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shitan Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou City from July to December 2022. A community-based screening program for CRC was conducted among residents aged 40-74 years old. m SDC2 detection was employed in the participants, and those with positive results should be recommended to receive colonoscopy examination. The positive rate of m SDC2 detection, colonoscopy compliance rate, detection rate of intestinal lesions and clinicopathological characteristics were observed. The relationship between cycle threshold (CT) value of m SDC2 and intestinal lesions was explored. Further, the cost-effectiveness of screening was evaluated. Results:A total of 8 189 fecal samples were collected from 8 877 participants with the recovery rate of 92.25%. 8 048 qualified samples were enrolled in this study, consisted of 3 182 males (39.54%) and 4 866 females (60.46%), with the average age of 56 years old (40-74 years). The positive rate of m SDC2 detection was 7.99% (643/8 048), and the compliance rate of colonoscopy was 73.10% (470/643). 20 cases (4.25%) of colorectal cancer, 109 cases (23.19%) of advanced adenoma, 145 cases (30.85%) of non-advanced adenoma, 79 cases (16.81%) of polyps were detected. The detection rate of intestinal lesions was 75.11% and indicated significant differences in gender and age. 20 CRCs included 15 of stage 0-I, 4 of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ and 1 of unknown stage. The CT value of m SDC2 was negatively correlated with the proportion of advanced colorectal neoplasms ( χ2=16.063, P<0.001). The total cost of the screening was 4.339 5 million yuan, the screening benefit was 28.506 2 million yuan, and the benefit-cost ratio was 6.57. Conclusion:The CRC screening strategy of fecal m SDC2 detection combined with colonoscopy has high colonoscopy compliance and detection rate of intestinal lesions, which is conducive to the detection of early CRCs, and has good cost-effectiveness. This study suggests that this method may be applied to the general CRC screening in China and contribute to the prevention of CRC. The CT value of m SDC2 may have a certain suggestion on the malignant degree of intestinal tumors.

Depsides and depsidones have attracted attention for biosynthetic studies due to their broad biological activities and structural diversity. Previous structure‒activity relationships indicated that triple halogenated depsidones display the best anti-pathogenic activity. However, the gene cluster and the tailoring steps responsible for halogenated depsidone nornidulin ( 3) remain enigmatic. In this study, we disclosed the complete biosynthetic pathway of the halogenated depsidone through in vivo gene disruption, heterologous expression and in vitro biochemical experiments. We demonstrated an unusual depside skeleton biosynthesis process mediated by both highly-reducing polyketide synthase and non-reducing polyketide synthase, which is distinct from the common depside skeleton biosynthesis. This skeleton was subsequently modified by two in-cluster enzymes DepG and DepF for the ether bond formation and decarboxylation, respectively. In addition, the decarboxylase DepF exhibited substrate promiscuity for different scaffold substrates. Finally, and interestingly, we discovered a halogenase encoded remotely from the biosynthetic gene cluster, which catalyzes triple-halogenation to produce the active end product nornidulin ( 3). These discoveries provide new insights for further understanding the biosynthesis of depsidones and their derivatives.

In recent years, the clinical experts consensuses or guidelines of ankylosing spondylitis (AS)/spondyloarthritis (SpA) have been constantly updated, but to better understand and practice, patient self-participation management is one of the key points to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment. Through questionnaire survey of these patients, we screened out the most concerned issues, and established the AS/SpA patient practice guideline working group with multidisciplinary physicians and patients. Fifteen opinions, as the AS/SpA patient practice guidelines, are proposed in accordance with the relevant principles of the "WHO guidelines development manual" , and with the international normative process.

Objective To investigate the prognostic factors of radical gastrectomy for stage Ⅲ gastric cancer and predictive value of metastatic lymph node ratio for prognosis.Methods The retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 995 patients with stage Ⅲ gastric cancer who were admitted to the Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University between January 2003 and December 2014 were collected.There were 690 males and 305 females,aged from 20 to 75 years,with an average age of 61 years.After clinical staging according to results of preoperative accessory examinations,patients with early gastric cancer underwent D1+ lymphadenectomy,patients with advanced gastric cancer underwent D2 lymphadenectomy and patients with serosa invasion underwent D2+ lymphadenectomy.Observation indicators:(1) treatment situations;(2) follow-up and survival situations;(3) prognostic factors analysis after operation;(4) stratified analysis:① stratified analysis of tumor pathological N staging;② stratified analysis of number of lymph node dissected;③ stratified analysis of tumor pathological TNM staging;(5) receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Patients were followed up using outpatient examination and telephone interview to detect postoperative survival up to January 2016.The overall survival time was from the operation data to last follow-up or time of death.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD.The survival rate and curve were respectively calculated and drawn by the Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test was used for survival analysis.The COX proportional hazard model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis.The ROC curve and area under curve (AUC) were used to check the accuracy of number of positive lymph nodes and metastatic lymph node ratio for prognosis.Comparison of the AUC was analyzed by the Z test.Results (1) Treatment situations:of 995 patients underging gastrectomy,677 underwent distal gastrectomy,85 underwent proximal gastrectomy,233 underwent total gastrectomy.There were 117 undergoing D1+ lymphadenectomy and 878 undergoing D2 lymphadenectomy or D2+ lymphadenectomy.The number of lymph node dissected,number of positive lymph nodes,metastatic lymph node ratio were 27± 12,10± 9 and 0.41±0.28,respectively.(2) Follow-up and survival situations:995 patients were followed up for (35± 32)months.During the follow-up,the 1-,3-,5-year overall survival rates were 77.9％,47.8％,36.2％.(3) Prognostic factors analysis after operation:results of univariate analysis showed that sex,tumor histological type,vascular embolus,degree of tumor invasion,tumor pathological N staging,number of lymph node dissected,metastatic lymph node ratio,tumor pathological TNM staging were related factors affecting prognosis of radical gastrectomy for stage Ⅲ gasteric cancer (hazard ratio =0.817,1.486,1.268,2.173,1.957,1.737,3.357,2.169,95％ confidence interval:0.686-0.973,1.059-2.086,1.074-1.497,1.195-3.954,1.480-2.588,1.390-2.170,2.476-4.602,1.740-2.704,P＜0.05).Results of multivariate analysis showed that sex,tumor histological type,tumor pathological N staging,number of lymph node dissected,metastatic lymph node ratio,tumor pathological TNM staging were independent factors affecting prognosis of radical gastrectomy for stage Ⅲ gastric cancer (hazard ratio =0.805,1.476,0.237,1.475,3.811,3.600,95％ confidence interval:0.673-0.963,1.049-2.087,0.083-0.678,1.140-1.909,2.259-6.428,1.317-9.839,P＜0.05).(4) Stratified analysis:of the 995 patients,the postoperative l-,3-,5-year overall survival rates were 93.7％,69.6％,60.5％ in the patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤ 0.1,86.9％,60.6％,44.3％ in the patients with 0.1 ＜ metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.4 and 64.3％,28.9％,21.0％ in the patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ＞ 0.4,showing a statistically significant difference (x2 =121.300,P＜0.05).There were statistically significant differences between patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.1 and patients with 0.1＜ metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.4,between patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.1 and patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ＞0.4 (x2=7.580,65.320,P＜0.05).There was a statistically significant difference between patients with 0.1 ＜ metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.4 and patients with metastatic lymph node ratio＞0.4 (x2 =80.806,P＜0.05).① Stratified analysis of tumor pathological N staging:the average metastatic lymph node ratio was 0.09 in the 132 stage N1 patients,who were divided into the patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤ 0.1 and ＞ 0.1.The postoperative 1-,3-,5-year overall survival rates were 92.2％,68.6％,59.1％ in the 108 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤ 0.1 and 79.2％,32.8％,21.9％ in the 24 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ＞0.1,respectively,showing a statistically significant difference (x2 =14.499,P＜0.05).The average metastatic lymph node ratio was 0.23 in the 265 stage N2 patients,who were divided into the patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.2 and ＞0.2.The postoperative 1-,3-,5-year overall survival rates were 92.3％,73.8％,61.0％ in the 138 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.2 and 76.5％,40.1％,22.2％ in the 127 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ＞0.2,respectively,showing a statistically significant difference (x2 =42.536,P＜0.05).The average metastatic lymph node ratio was 0.56 in the 598 stage N3 patients,who were divided into the patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.4 and ＞0.4.The postoperative 1-,3-,5-year overall survival rates were 88.5％,62.8％,47.0％ in the 194 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤ 0.4 and 64.3％,29.8％,21.0％ in the 404 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ＞0.4,respectively,showing a statistically significant difference (x2 =51.860,P＜ 0.05).② Stratified analysis of number of lymph node dissected:7 of 117 patients with the number of lymph node dissected ＜ 15 had metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.1,who were divided into patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.4 and ＞0.4.The postoperative 1-,3-,5-year overall survival rates were 78.2％,40.0％,28.6％ in the 44 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.4 and 78.1％,18.7％,12.9％ in the 73 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio＞0.4,respectively,showing a statistically significant difference (x2 =4.727,P＜0.05).③ Stratified analysis of tumor pathological TNM staging:of 262 patients with stage Ⅲa gastric cancer,the postoperative 1-,3-,5-year overall survival rates were 88.5％,65.0％,54.3％ in the 230 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.4 and 77.5％,35.4％,29.5％ in the 32 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ＞0.4,respectively,showing a statistically significant difference (x2 =6.132,P＜0.05).Of 296 patients with stage Ⅲb gastric cancer,the postoperative 1-,3-,5-year overall survival rates were 84.4％,60.7％,42.7％ in the 200 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤ 0.4 and 59.9％,26.8％,21.7％ in the 96 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ＞0.4,respectively,showing a statistically significant difference (x2 =23.699,P＜0.05).Of 437 patients with stage Ⅲ c gastric cancer,the postoperative 1-,3-,5-year overall survival rates were 84.7％,59.9％,38.7％ in the 133 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≤0.4 and 64.0％,27.9％,18.3％ in the 304 patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ＞0.4,respectively,showing a statistically significant difference (x2=36.215,P＜ 0.05).(5) ROC curve:ROC curves of postoperative overall survival rates in patients with stage Ⅲ gastric cancer were drawn using the number of positive lymph nodes and metastatic lymph node ratio,of which AUC were 0.619 (95％ confidence interval:O.588-0.649) and 0.706 (95％ confidence interval:0.677-0.734),showing a statistically significant difference (Z=8.842,P＜0.05).Conclusions Sex,tumor histological type,tumor pathological N staging,number of lymph node dissected,metastatic lymph node ratio,tumor pathological TNM staging are independent factors affecting prognosis of radical gastrectomy for stage Ⅲ gastric cancer.There is different prognosis of patients with different metastatic lymph node ratios in the subgroup of the same tumor pathological TNM staging,number of lymph node dissected,tumor pathological TNM staging.Compared with tumor pathological N staging,metastatic lymph node ratio has a more accurate predictive value for prognosis.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of pro-inflammation S100A9 protein in intestinal type gastric cancer.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological materials of the 278 patients who were diagnosed as Lauren classification intestinal gastric cancer and underwent surgical treatment between January and December 2008 at the Department of General Surgery,Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University.Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression of S100A9 protein in tumor tissues and para-tumor tissues.Results High expression of S100A9 protein was associated with the depth of tumor invasion (P =0.013),lymph node metastasis (81.4％,53.9％,47.3％ vs.84.7％,69.3％,60.7％,x2 =4.220,P =0.041) and TNM stage (P =0.010).The overall survival rate of these patients with high expression of S100A9 protein was significantly lower than those with low expression of S100A9 protein.In stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ patients,the overall survival rate of these patients with high expression of S100A9 protein was significantly lower than those with low expression of S100A9 protein.Moreover,for those patients who received postoperative chemotherapy,the prognosis of the patients with high expression of S100A9 protein was poorer than those with low expression.By multivariable analysis,the expression of S100A9 protein was not an independent risk factor for the prognosis of intestinal gastric cancer patients.Conclusions High expression of S100A9 protein in intestinal gastric cancer was associated with poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo establish an evaluation model of peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer, and to assess its clinical significance.

METHODSClinical and pathologic data of the consecutive cases of gastric cancer admitted between April 2015 and December 2015 in Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 710 patients were enrolled in the study after 18 patients with other distant metastasis were excluded. The correlations between peritoneal metastasis and different factors were studied through univariate (Pearson's test or Fisher's exact test) and multivariate analyses (Binary Logistic regression). Independent predictable factors for peritoneal metastasis were combined to establish a risk evaluation model (nomogram). The nomogram was created with R software using the 'rms' package. In the nomogram, each factor had different scores, and every patient could have a total score by adding all the scores of each factor. A higher total score represented higher risk of peritoneal metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the established nomogram. Delong. Delong. Clarke-Pearson test was used to compare the difference of the area under the curve (AUC). The cut-off value was determined by the AUC, when the ROC curve had the biggest AUC, the model had the best sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTSAmong 710 patients, 47 patients had peritoneal metastasis (6.6%), including 30 male (30/506, 5.9%) and 17 female (17/204, 8.3%); 31 were ≥ 60 years old (31/429, 7.2%); 38 had tumor ≥ 3 cm(38/461, 8.2%). Lauren classification indicated that 2 patients were intestinal type(2/245, 0.8%), 8 patients were mixed type(8/208, 3.8%), 11 patients were diffuse type(11/142, 7.7%), and others had no associated data. CA19-9 of 13 patients was ≥ 37 kU/L(13/61, 21.3%); CA125 of 11 patients was ≥ 35 kU/L(11/36, 30.6%); CA72-4 of 11 patients was ≥ 10 kU/L(11/39, 28.2%). Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of 26 patients was ≥ 2.37(26/231, 11.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that Lauren classification (HR=8.95, 95%CI:1.32-60.59, P=0.025), CA125(HR=17.45, 95%CI:5.54-54.89, P=0.001), CA72-4(HR=20.06, 95%CI:5.05-79.68, P=0.001), and NLR (HR=4.16, 95%CI:1.17-14.75, P=0.032) were independent risk factors of peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer. In the nomogram, the highest score was 241, including diffuse or mixed Lauren classification (54 score), CA125 ≥ 35 kU/L (66 score), CA72-4 ≥ 10 kU/L (100 score), and NLR ≥ 2.37 (21 score), which represented a highest risk of peritoneal metastasis (more than 90%). The AUC of nomogram was 0.912, which was superior than any single variable (AUC of Lauren classification: 0.678; AUC of CA125: 0.720; AUC of CA72-4: 0.792; AUC of NLR: 0.613, all P=0.000). The total score of nomogram increased according to the TNM stage, and was highest in the peritoneal metastasis group (F=49.1, P=0.000). When the cut-off value calculated by ROC analysis was set at 140, the model could best balanced the sensitivity (0.79) and the specificity (0.87). Only 5% of patients had peritoneal metastasis when their nomogram scores were lower than 140, while 58% of patients had peritoneal metastasis when their scores were ≥ 140(χ=69.1, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe risk evaluation model established with Lauren classification, CA125, CA72-4 and NLR can effectively predict the risk of peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer, and provide the reference to preoperative staging and choice of therapeutic strategy.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate ; blood ; Area Under Curve ; CA-125 Antigen ; blood ; CA-19-9 Antigen ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; statistics & numerical data ; Logistic Models ; Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Neutrophils ; pathology ; Nomograms ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; secondary ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; methods ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; classification ; diagnosis ; pathology

Objective To discuss the application of ultra-thin flap technology in the thoracodorsal artery per forator flap,and appraise the effectiveness in clinical practice.Methods From May,2013 to December,2015,10 patients with soft-tissue defects of the four limbs were treated with ultra-thin thoracodorsal artery perforator flap.The classification of the perforating vessels was done by Kimura method.The flap blood supply was measured and the patients' satisfaction of the appearance of flap was investigated through questionnaires.Results The flap of 8 cases (5 cases of type Ⅰ and 3 cases of type Ⅱ) could be evenly thinned,and the flap of 2 cases (type Ⅲ) could only be thinned at the edge beyond the part with perforator as the center and a radius of 3 centimeters.The flap of 9 cases completely lived.While in 1 case (type Ⅲ),a small part of the edge of the flap was necrosed(2 cm×1 cm),and coalesced well after change dressing.The donor site was sutured directly in 7 cases and covered with skin graft in 1 case.Eight patients were followed-up from 6 to 12 months.The treatment effect was satisfied.And there were no side effects on the functioning of donor sites.Seven patients were highly satisfied with the appearance of the flap (satisfaction rate was 87.5％).Conclusion Ultra-thin flap technology can be adopted to cut thin thoracodorsal artery perforator flap,and can remarkably improve the effect in clinical practice.