Objective To construct a prediction model for the progression of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)based on ultrasound score,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)score,and serum levels of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)and cathepsin D(Cat D).Methods Clinical data from 270 patients with KOA in Hengshui People's hospital from December 2022 to June 2024 were retrospec-tively analyzed.The patients were randomly divided into a modeling set(n=189)and validation set(n=81)at a ratio of 7∶3.The patients in the modeling set were categorized into mild-to-moderate and severe groups based on the degree of disease progression.Mul-tivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing KOA progression,and a prediction model was constructed using R software.Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index,knee injury history,ultrasound score,WORMS score,TGF-β1,and Cat D were significant predictors of KOA progression(P＜0.05).A nomogram-based prediction model was developed using these variables.The areas under the curve(AUC)of the nomograms for predicting disease progression in the modeling and validation sets were 0.889 and 0.860,respectively.The calibration curves showed that the predicted probability was in good agreement with the actual probability.Conclusion The prediction model developed in this study is effective in identifying patients at high-risk of KOA progression and may servce as a valuable tool for clinical assessment and decision making.

Objective To construct a prediction model for the progression of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)based on ultrasound score,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)score,and serum levels of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)and cathepsin D(Cat D).Methods Clinical data from 270 patients with KOA in Hengshui People's hospital from December 2022 to June 2024 were retrospec-tively analyzed.The patients were randomly divided into a modeling set(n=189)and validation set(n=81)at a ratio of 7∶3.The patients in the modeling set were categorized into mild-to-moderate and severe groups based on the degree of disease progression.Mul-tivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing KOA progression,and a prediction model was constructed using R software.Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index,knee injury history,ultrasound score,WORMS score,TGF-β1,and Cat D were significant predictors of KOA progression(P＜0.05).A nomogram-based prediction model was developed using these variables.The areas under the curve(AUC)of the nomograms for predicting disease progression in the modeling and validation sets were 0.889 and 0.860,respectively.The calibration curves showed that the predicted probability was in good agreement with the actual probability.Conclusion The prediction model developed in this study is effective in identifying patients at high-risk of KOA progression and may servce as a valuable tool for clinical assessment and decision making.

Objective To explore the value of dynamic ultrasound combined with 3.0T MRI for diagnosing and typing synovial plica of knee joint.Methods Dynamic ultrasound and 3.0T MRI data of 100 patients with suspected synovial plica of knee joint were retrospectively analyzed.Taking the results of arthroscopy as standards,the efficacy of dynamic ultrasound and 3.0T MRI alone and their combination for diagnosing synovial plica of knee joint were evaluated and compared.The length and thickness of synovial plica of knee joint measured with dynamic ultrasound,3.0T MRI alone and their combination were compared with those of arthroscopy,and the consistencies of the location and classification of synovial plica of knee joint with arthroscopy were analyzed.Results Synovial plica was detected in 70 cases,including 11 cases of supropatellar synovial plica,15 cases of infrapatellar synovial plica,medial patellar in 30 cases and lateral patellar synovial plica in 14 cases,among them type A,B,C and D were classified in 9,35,23 and 3 cases,respectively.No significant difference of sensitivity was found between dynamic ultrasound and 3.0T MRI alone for diagnosing synovial plica of knee joint(P＞0.05),which were both lower than that of their combination(both P＜0.05).The length and thickness of knee synovial plica measured with dynamic ultrasound and 3.0T MRI alone were lower than those measured with their combination and arthroscopy(all P＜0.05),and there was no significant difference between the results of their combination and arthroscopy(both P＞0.05).Dynamic ultrasound,3.0T MRI alone and their combination had high consistency of location(Kappa=0.755,0.826,0.897)and classification of knee synovial plica with those of arthroscopy(Kappa=0.721,0.744,0.860).Conclusion Dynamic ultrasound combined with 3.0T MRI was valuable for diagnosing and typing of synovial plica of knee joint.

【Objective】 To investigate the value of three hemolysis tests and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in the diagnosis of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). 【Methods】 From January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022, the neonates hospitalized in the Department of Neonatology of Hebei Provincial Children's Hospital with suspected hemolytic disease who had serological testing were retrospectively enrolled in the study. They were distributed into HDFN group and non-HDFN group according to the final diagnosis. Their clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed, and the COHb level was detected by blood gas analyzer. 【Results】 A total of 378 neonates with HDFN and 217 neonates without HDFN were included in the study. Most of the neonates in HDFN group were full-term infants (348/378, 92.1%), with median gestational age of 39.1 (38.3, 40.0) weeks. Three hundred and fifty-four cases (354/378, 93.7%) were ABO-HDFN and the rest were Rh HDFN. There were significant differences in the level of serum total bilirubin, hemoglobin, COHb and reticulocyte percentage at admission between the two groups(P<0.05). The positive rate of three hemolysis tests in HDFN group decreased with the increase of the days after birth. The highest positive rate (more than 80%) was observed within 2 days after birth. Correlation analysis showed a negative relationship between the COHb level and the age (rs = -0.434, P<0.001) . Among the three hemolysis tests in HDFN group, the positive rate of antibody release test was the highest (69.0%), followed by the free antibody test (55.6%) and the direct antiglobulin test (DAT) (36.0%). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value of COHb was 1.15%.The sensitivity of COHb ≥ 1.15% was 51.8%, higher than single DAT (36.0%) . The diagnosis effectiveness of three hemolysis tests couldn't be improved when combined with COHb detection(Z = -0.727, P>0.05) . 【Conclusion】 The three hemolysis tests are important in the diagnosis of HDFN, among which the antibody release test has the highest sensitivity. COHb has certain value for the diagnosis of HDFN, but joint testing cannot improve the diagnosis effectiveness of three hemolysis tests. Hemolysis tests and/or COHb detection should be conducted for neonates at risk of hemolysis as early as possible after birth.

Increasing evidences suggest the important role of calcium homeostasis in hallmarks of cancer, but its function and regulatory network in metastasis remain unclear. A comprehensive investigation of key regulators in cancer metastasis is urgently needed. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and matched metastatic tissues and a series of gain/loss-of-function experiments identified potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 4 (KCTD4) as a driver of cancer metastasis. KCTD4 expression was found upregulated in metastatic ESCC. High KCTD4 expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with ESCC and contributes to cancer metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, KCTD4 binds to CLIC1 and disrupts its dimerization, thus increasing intracellular Ca²⁺ level to enhance NFATc1-dependent fibronectin transcription. KCTD4-induced fibronectin secretion activates fibroblasts in a paracrine manner, which in turn promotes cancer cell invasion via MMP24 signaling as positive feedback. Furthermore, a lead compound K279-0738 significantly suppresses cancer metastasis by targeting the KCTD4‒CLIC1 interaction, providing a potential therapeutic strategy. Taken together, our study not only uncovers KCTD4 as a regulator of calcium homeostasis, but also reveals KCTD4/CLIC1-Ca²⁺-NFATc1-fibronectin signaling as a novel mechanism of cancer metastasis. These findings validate KCTD4 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for ESCC.

[Abstract] Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the most abundant and critical components in tumor microenvironment, which not only provide physical support for tumor cells, but also play a key role in promoting or delaying tumor occurrence and development. CAFs are a highly abundant and heterogeneous mesenchymal cell line, which contain a large number of cell subsets with different phenotypes and functions. Targeted therapies for CAFs also emerge as demanded. In order to improve the understanding of CAFs in malignant tumors, we elucidate the heterogeneity of CAFs origins, phenotypes and related functions, as well as the research progress of their application in targeted therapy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have proved platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) with osteoinduction ability, and the centrifugal speed and time to prepare rabbit advanced PRF (A-PRF) with the most similar structure to that of human PRF have been determined.OBJECTIVE: To observe the histological changes during A-PRF-induced osteogenesis.METHODS: Thirty Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into A-PRF and blank control groups (n=15 per group).The full-thickness defect models were established on the rabbit parietal bone, followed by implanted with A-PRF or nothing, respectively. The model rabbits were killed immediately, at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after modeling, to grossly observe the bone formation, and the histological changes in the defect region were observed through hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Unhealed defects were observed in the blank control group. Gross and histological observations showed that the speed, amount and maturity of bone formation in the A-PRF group were significantly better than those in the blank control group immediately, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after modeling (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the rabbit skull bone defect is successfully established. A-PRF can induce osteogenesis, and more mature newly born bones appear with time. Additionally, osteoclasts can act with osteoblasts synergically under the A-PRF induction to promote the bone formation.

Through random sampling,a total of 300 residents of Beijing Changping Ming Tombs Town were selected for home-based questionnaires.The smoking rate of interviewed residents was 21.4％ (53/248).The rate in men (42/125,33.6％ ) was bigber than that in women ( 11/123,8.9％ ).The rate in those with higher education was lower than that in those with lower educational level ( x2 =27.12,P ＜ 0.05 ).The population awareness of tobacco hazards was 80.6％ (200/248).Awareness in smokers was lower than the average awareness of ex-smokers and nonsmokers ( x2 =5.07,P ＜ 0.05 ).The higher the education level,the higher the awareness of tobacco health hazards ( x2 ≈ 19.72,P ＜ 0.05 ).There were differences in awareness among different age groups (x2 =13.37,P ＜ 0.05 ).