To evaluate the advantages of using PBL case library in teaching circulatory system diseases to clinical medicine undergraduate students, a PBL case library was established and applied in teaching practice in the reform of circulatory system teaching. The PBL case library achieved the characteristics of combining theories with cases, morphology with functions, and basic knowledge with clinical knowledge. The PBL case library also realized the informatization, query, and update of cases. Preliminary application showed that the median practical score of students in the case library group was 94.00 points, which was significantly higher than the 92.00 points in the control group ( P=0.005). The average lesson preparation time for teachers in the case library group was (5.00±1.00) hours, which was significantly shorter than the (6.89±0.42) hours in the control group ( P<0.001). The difficulty score for lesson preparation among teachers in the case library group was significantly lower than that of the control group [(1.89±1.05) vs. (3.22±0.44), P<0.001]. However, there were no significant difference in theoretical scores and student satisfaction with teachers and courses. These results suggest that the construction of case library can improve practical teaching effectiveness and enhance the efficiency of lesson preparation for teachers.

BACKGROUND: The burden of esophageal cancer varies across different regions of the world. The aim of this study is to analyze the current burden of esophageal cancer in 185 countries in 2022 and to project the trends up to the year 2050. METHODS: We extracted data on primary esophageal cancer cases and deaths from the GLOBOCAN 2022 database, which includes data from 185 countries. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and mortality rates (ASMR) per 100,000 person-years were calculated by stratifying by Human Development Index (HDI) levels and regions. Considering changes in population size and age structure, we assumed that the risks of incidence and mortality remain constant at the levels of 2022 to forecast the number of new cases and deaths from esophageal cancer globally by 2050. RESULTS: In 2022, an estimated 511,054 people were diagnosed with esophageal cancer globally, and 445,391 died from the disease. The global ASIR and ASMR for esophageal cancer were 5.00 and 4.30 per 100,000, respectively. The highest rates were observed in East Africa (7.60 for incidence, 7.20 for mortality per 100,000), East Asia (7.60 for incidence, 5.90 for mortality per 100,000), Southern Africa (6.30 for incidence, 5.90 for mortality per 100,000), and South Central Asia (5.80 for incidence, 5.50 for mortality per 100,000). Among the 185 countries worldwide, esophageal cancer was among the top five causes of cancer incidence in 18 countries and among the top five causes of cancer mortality in 25 countries. In 2022, China had 224,012 new cases and 187,467 deaths from esophageal cancer, accounting for approximately 43.8% and 42.1% of the global total, respectively, which is higher than the proportion of China's population to the global population (17.9%). ASIR was 8.30 per 100,000, and ASMR was 6.70 per 100,000. The highest burden of esophageal cancer was in high HDI countries, with new cases and deaths accounting for 51.3% and 50.0% of the global total, respectively. The ASIR and ASMR were highest in the high HDI group (6.10 and 5.10 per 100,000, respectively), also exceeding the global averages. There was a trend of decreasing mortality to incidence ratio with increasing HDI, but no correlation was observed between HDI and ASIR or ASMR. In all regions worldwide, the incidence and mortality rates were higher in males than in females (with a male-to-female ASR ratio ranging from 1.10 to 28.7). Compared to 2022, it is projected that by 2050, the number of new esophageal cancer cases will increase by approximately 80.5%, and deaths will increase by 85.4% due to population growth and aging. CONCLUSIONS The burden of esophageal cancer remains heavy. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including reducing tobacco and alcohol intake, avoiding moldy foods, and increasing intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, can help reduce the risk of stomach and esophageal cancer. In addition, the development and implementation of evidence-based and effective public health policies are critical to reducing the global disease burden of esophageal cancer.
Esophageal Neoplasms/mortality* ; Humans ; Male ; Incidence ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Global Health ; Aged ; Adult

Objective:To analyze the influencing factors related to false-negative results of interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) QFT-GIT in patients with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods:Clinical data of 389 patients with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis who underwent QFT-GIT in Quzhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University between January 1 and December 31 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors related to the false-negative results of QFT-GIT.Results:Among 389 confirmed patients, 347 cases had positive QFT-GIT results and 42 cases had negative results. Univariate analysis showed that the false-negative results of QFT-GIT were associated with low BMI, reduced CD4 + T lymphocyte count, decreased lymphocyte count, increased C-reactive protein, negative sputum smear, anemia, diabetes mellitus, malignant tumor and sepsis ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis showed that BMI <18.5 kg/m 2( OR=1.585, 95% CI 1.076-2.336), complicated with diabetes( OR=5.157, 95% CI 2.340-11.365), malignant tumors ( OR=5.596, 95% CI 2.048-15.295)and sepsis ( OR=4.141, 95% CI 1.042-16.459) were independent risk factors for the false-negative results of QFT-GIT ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:When the pulmonary tuberculosis patients are extreme emaciation, complicated with diabetes, malignant tumor or sepsis, the QFT-GIT results will be false negative.

Objective To evaluate the damage of longitudinal mechanical parameters of left ventricular myocardium by ultrasonic layer‐specific strain imaging in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE ) without conventional evidence of cardiovascular system involvement . Methods Seventy‐eight patients suffered from SLE without conventional evidence of cardiovascular system involvement ( SLE group ) and 48 healthy volunteers with age and sex matched ( control group ) were selected for this study . T he left ventricular conventional structure and functional parameters were measured by conventional echocardiography . T hen layer‐specific strain imaging was performed in both groups to obtain left ventricular endocardial myocardial global longitudinal strain ( GLSendo ) ,mid‐myocardial GLS ( GLSmid) ,epicardial GLS ( GLSepi) and basal segment ,middle segment and apex longitudinal strain ( LS) of all three layers of the myocardium . T hen the transmural difference of the GLS ( ΔLS ＝ GLSendo －GLSepi) were calculated . T he related parameters between these two groups were compared for difference and correlation analysis of related mechanical parameters were also made . Results ① T here was no significant difference in the left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF ) and left ventricular stroke volume ( LVSV ) between the two groups ( all P ＞0 .05 ) ; Compared with the control group ,the mean E/e in the SLE group was increased and the E/A ,E ,e were decreased ( all P ＜0 .05) ; however ,the incidence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in the SLE group ( 2/78 ) was not significantly different from that in the control group ( 0/48 ) ( P ＞0 .05 ) . ② T he myocardial global longitudinal strain( GLS ) of the two groups were decreased from endocardial to epicardial gradient ; the values of GLS and segmental LS of all three layers in the SLE group were decreased ( all P ＜0 .05) ; the ΔLS of the SLE group was decreased compared with the control group ( P ＜ 0 .05 ) ; the value of peak strain dispersion ( PSD ) were increased in SLE patients ( P ＜ 0 .05 ) . ③ T he correlation analysis showed the GLS of each layer of myocardium in SLE patients were negatively correlated with disease duration ( rs ＝ －0 .34～ －0 .36 ,all P ＜ 0 .05 ) and SLE disease activity index ( SLEDAI) ( rs ＝ －0 .25～ －0 .30 ,all P ＜0 .05 ) . Conclusions T he ultrasonic layer‐specific strain imaging can quantitatively detect the damage of mechanical parameters of left ventricle in SLE patients ,w hich is more sensitive than the conventional echocardiography in evaluating left ventricular systolic function . It may provide visual evidence for early diagnosis of cardica dysfunction in SLE patients .

Objective: To investigate students' satisfaction degree on "organ-centered" integrated teaching model for Circulatory Disease, and reveal potential problems and propose improvement methods. Methods: All grade 2016 students from the second department of clinical medicine and pediatrics major were selected as study objects and students' satisfaction degree on "organ-centered" integrated curriculum for circulatory system were investigated. Self-designed questionnaires were adopted; eighteen questions related to the satisfaction degree were designed; questionnaires were distributed and collected by WJX software. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis and word frequency analysis of the results were performed using R software. Result: The results of the questionnaire showed that students were not satisfied with the integrated teaching model. Word frequency analysis showed that students' problems mainly were limited class hours but too many learning content, fast teaching speed and insufficient curriculum integration. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis further showed that students' satisfaction degree was related to their mastery of knowledge and post-class review (P<0.05). Conclusion Our teaching and research section should fully summarize the teaching experience and shortcomings in the "organ-centered" integrated curriculum for Circulatory System Disease, and try our best to make the in-class teaching clearer, integrate the basic and clinical knowledge, encourage students to review lessons in time and cultivate their ability of independent learning, so as to ultimately improve students' satisfaction for teaching and teachers' teaching quality.

The widespread application of next generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical settings has enabled testing, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of genetic diseases. However, many issues have arisen in the meanwhile. One of the most pressing issues is the lack of standards for reporting genetic test results across different service providers. The First Forum on Standards and Specifications for Clinical Genetic Testing was held to address the issue in Shenzhen, China, on October 28, 2017. Participants, including geneticists, clinicians, and representatives of genetic testing service providers, discussed problems of clinical genetic testing services across in China and shared opinions on principles, challenges, and standards for reporting clinical genetic test results. Here we summarize expert opinions presented at the seminar and report the consensus, which will serve as a basis for the development of standards and guidelines for reporting of clinical genetic testing results, in order to promote the standardization and regulation of genetic testing services in China.

Objective To reveal the early elastic dysfunction of common carotid artery may have occurred in systemic lupus erythematosus( SLE) patients ,the circumferential strain parameters of common carotid artery intima in SLE patients at different serum complement levels were quantitatively evaluated by layer-specific strain imaging . Methods Seventy-two patients suffered from SLE without evidence of atherosclerosis were enrolled ,and the results of laboratory examination of serum complement C 3 in patients with SLE were recorded in detail ,49 cases of SLE patients whose serum C3 was lower than the normal reference range(SLE C3+ group) ,23 cases of SLE patients whose serum C3 was in the range of normal reference value(SLE C3 - group) . And a matched healthy control group ( n =38) were selected . Carotid ultrasound were performed in all three groups ,and the common carotid artery conventional parameters ,such as common carotid artery intima-media thickness ( CCA-IM T ) ,peak systolic velocity ( PSV ) ,end-diastolic velocity(EDV) ,resistance index(RI) and circumferential strain related parameters ,such as circumferential strain of common carotid artery intima(CSendo) and circumferential strain rate(CSr) were measured and derived.Therelatedparametersamongthosegroupswerecomparedfordifference.Results ①Therewas no significant difference in RI among the three groups(all P >0 .05) . The values of CCA-IMT in the SLE C3+ group and SLE C3- group were larger than that in the control group( all P <0 .05) . ②The values of CSendo and CSr in the SLE C3+ group and SLE C3 - group were lower than those in the control group ,the values of SLE C3+ group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P <0 .001) ,and there was no significant difference between the SLE C3- group and control group( P >0 .05) . ③The CSendo and CSr in the SLE C3+ group were lower than those in the SLE C3- group(all P < 0 .05) . Conclusions CSendo which is provided by new ultrasonic technology of layer-specific strain combined with recent changes in serum complement C3 may provide visual evidence for assessing early elastic disfunction of carotid intima in SLE patients .

At present, an effective detecting method for brain function impairment for the patients with the glioma is urgently needed in clinic, because it may help us understand its pathogenesis. This paper proposes a method of combining diffusion tensor tracing technology and 'small world' network. It utilizes the degree of brain function network to study complex network topological properties of the patients with the glioma in temporal lobe area. The experimental results showed that the brain networks of the patients with the glioma of different grades were destroyed compared with those of the normal persons, but the destruction degree is independent of the tumor grades. The distribution of functional connections is index truncated power-law accompanied by significant heterogeneity. Meanwhile, the stronger functional areas of information in the glioma have transferred and there exists lack of language function area and sensory function area.
Brain ; physiopathology ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Glioma ; pathology ; Humans ; White Matter ; pathology

At present, navigation path deviation caused by brain shift is the main factor that affects the accuracy of neurosurgical navigation. A new method of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) based neurosurgical navigation is presented in the paper. The correlation between NIRS optical parameters and medical image is used and the gray information of navigation path is regarded as the priori knowledge, sample-points curvatures are calculated by Hermite interpolation and the Mean Hausdorff distance as measurement criterion is used to match feature segments, then the real-time correction model is established. The algorithm of the given model is simple and can realize the best match within the error, it provides an effective method for real-time navigation path correction.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Calibration ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Neuronavigation ; methods ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods

Medical image fusion is of very important value for application in medical image analysis and diagnosis. In this paper, the conventional method of wavelet fusion is improved,so a new algorithm of medical image fusion is presented and the high frequency and low frequency coefficients are studied respectively. When high frequency coefficients are chosen, the regional edge intensities of each sub-image are calculated to realize adaptive fusion. The choice of low frequency coefficient is based on the edges of images, so that the fused image preserves all useful information and appears more distinctly. We apply the conventional and the improved fusion algorithms based on wavelet transform to fuse two images of human body and also evaluate the fusion results through a quality evaluation method. Experimental results show that this algorithm can effectively retain the details of information on original images and enhance their edge and texture features. This new algorithm is better than the conventional fusion algorithm based on wavelet transform.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Diagnostic Imaging ; methods ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods