To explore the role of the "Clinical Practice Guidelines" column and others in the Medical Joumnal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Med J PUMCH) in promoting diseiplinary development.

Objective:To analyze the disease characteristics of aspiration pneumonia and its risk factors.Methods:In this retrospective case-control study, analysis was conducted on data from 92 patients aged &ge; 60 years admitted to Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University between June 1, 2018 and July 31, 2022, with aspiration pneumonia(AsP) as the primary diagnosis at the time of hospital discharge and from non-AsP patients admitted during the same period.The number of participants was matched at a 1∶1 ratio.Results:The average age of the AsP group was(80.88 ± 9.41) years and 57(62.0%) were men.The average age of the control group was(77.74 ± 10.98) years and 52(56.5%) were men.There was no statistically significant difference in age and sex ratio(age: t=1.973, P=0.060; sex ratio: χ2=0.661, P=0.416).Univariate analysis showed that, at admission, body mass index(BMI) and activities of daily living(ADL) scores of the AsP group were lower than those of the non-AsP group, the proportions of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, acute trauma, cerebrovascular disease, history of cerebral infarction/hemorrhage and sequelae of cerebrovascular disease were higher than those of the non-AsP group(all P<0.05), and the proportions of patients receiving feeding via indwelling nasogastric intubation and tracheal intubation were also higher in the AsP group(all P<0.05).The white blood cell count, the percentage of neutrophils and the procalcitonin level in the first round of tests were higher in the AsP group than those in the non-AsP group and the maximum values of the above parameters during hospitalization were also higher than those in non-AsP patients, while the levels of albumin and prealbumin were lower than those in the non-AsP group( P<0.05 for all).Chest CT showed that 83.7%(77/92) of patients with AsP had bilateral pneumonia, higher than 55.4%(51/92) in the non-AsP group( χ2=8.569, P=0.014).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that male sex( OR=16.206, 95% CI: 1.268-207.191, P=0.032) was a risk factor for AsP, and BMI( OR=0.747, 95% CI: 0.582-0.959, P=0.022) and ADL score at admission( OR=0.945, 95% CI: 0.903-0.988, P=0.014) were protective factors against AsP.ADL score at admission( OR=0.951, 95% CI: 0.907-0.982, P=0.043), tumor history( OR=6.859, 95% CI: 1.484-31.700, P=0.014), history of cerebral infarction/intracerebral hemorrhage( OR=4.368, 95% CI: 1.087-17.511, P=0.038), history of chronic renal insufficiency( OR=5.820, 95% CI: 1.445-23.440, P=0.013), acute respiratory failure( OR=5.281, 95% CI: 1.237-22.545, P=0.013) and myocardial infarction( OR=9.466, 95% CI: 2.151-41.660, P=0.003) were independent factors affecting the prognosis of pneumonia in the elderly. Conclusions:Aspiration pneumonia in the elderly is more common in men and in individuals with low BMI and low ADL scores.There is no increased risk of mortality in people with AsP, compared with people without AsP, but some risk factors in AsP patients may lead to poor prognosis, calling for increased awareness and early intervention in clinical practice.

Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/drug therapy* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Liver Cirrhosis/pathology* ; Biopsy ; Patients ; Liver/pathology* ; Fibrosis

Xanthocillin is a unique natural product with an isonitrile group and shows remarkable antibacterial activity. In this study, the genome of an endophytic fungus Penicillium chrysogenum MT-40 isolated from Huperzia serrata was sequenced, and the gene clusters with the potential to synthesize xanthocillin analogues were mined by local BLAST and various bioinformatics analysis tools. As a result, a biosynthetic gene cluster (named for) responsible for the biosynthesis of xanthocillin analogues was identified by further heterologous expression of the key genes in Aspergillus oryzae NSAR1. Specifically, the ForB catalyzes the synthesis of 2-formamido-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid, and the ForG catalyzes the dimerization of 2-formamido-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid to produce the xanthocillin analogue N, N'-(1, 4-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) buta-1, 3-diene-2, 3-diyl) diformamide. The results reported here provide a reference for further discovery of xanthocillin analogues from fungi.
Penicillium chrysogenum/genetics* ; Huperzia/microbiology* ; Acrylates ; Multigene Family

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of metabolic parameters of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18F-FDG) positron emission computed tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) treated with first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combined with chemotherapy. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate patients with advanced NSCLC who underwent baseline PET/CT before treatment at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2019 to 2021. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the cut-offs for metabolic parameters of PET/CT, including total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and maximum standard uptake value (SUV max). Kaplan-Meier method, Log-rank test, and Cox regression model were used to calculate the overall survival (OS) and the progression-free survival(PFS). Results:A total of 44 patients were enrolled. Univariate analysis showed that the factors influencing PFS were TMTV and the number of metastatic sites ( χ2=4.19, 11.28, P<0.05) and the factors influencing OS were TMTV and TLG ( χ2=14.96, 6.05, P<0.05). Multivariate analysis suggested that number of metastatic sites was an independent prognostic marker for PFS ( P=0.011) and TMTV was an independent prognostic marker for OS ( P=0.038). Conclusions:TMTV is a prognostic indicator of OS while the number of metastatic sites is a prognostic indicator of PFS in advanced NSCLC patients who received first-line ICI combined with chemotherapy, but further prospective studies are needed.

Objective:To compare the effects on DNA strand break induced by ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) electron beam and conventional irradiation, and investigate whether FLASH effect was correlated with a reduction of radiation response.Methods:Aqueous pBR322 plasmid was treated with FLASH (125 Gy/s) and conventional irradiation (0.05 Gy/s) under physioxia (4% O 2) and normoxia (21% O 2). Open circle DNA and linear DNA were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis, and the plasmid DNA damage was quantified with an established mathematical model to calculate the relative biological effect (RBE) of DNA damage. In some experiments, Samwirin A (SW) was applied to scavenge free radicals generated by ionizing radiation. Results:Under physioxia, the yields of DNA strand breakage induced by both FLASH and conventional irradiation had a dose-dependent manner. FLASH irradiation could significantly decrease radiation-induced linear DNA compared with conventional irradiation ( t=5.28, 5.79, 7.01, 7.66, P<0.05). However, when the aqueous plasmid was pretreated with SW, there was no difference of DNA strand breakage between FLASH and conventional irradiation ( P>0.05). Both of the yields of open circle DNA and linear DNA had no difference caused by FLASH and conventional radiotherapy at normoxia, but were significantly higher than those under physioxia. In addition, the yields of linear DNA and open circle DNA induced by FLASH irradiation per Gy were (2.78±0.03) and (1.85±0.17) times higher than those of conventional irradiation, respectively. Conclusions:FLASH irradiation attenuated radiation-induced DNA damage since a low production yield of free radical in comparison with conventional irradiation, and hence the FLASH effect was correlated with oxygen content.

Objective:To evaluate clinical efficacy of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) combined with radiotherapy (RT) in patients with newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with brain metastasis (BM).Methods:Clinical data of patients with BM of NSCLC diagnosed in Henan Cancer Hospital from December 2017 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were treated with programmed death-1 (PD-1) / programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor combined with or without brain RT. The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariate analysis was performed by log-rank test and multivariate analysis was performed by Cox model.Results:The median follow-up time was 13 months (range 4-49 months). The median overall survival (OS) time was 24 months, and the 1-, 2- and 3-year OS rates were 75.8%, 44.7%, and 33.6%, respectively. The 1-year intracerebral progression-free survival (iPFS) was 68.8%. The intracerebral objective response rate (icORR) of the RT-ICI group and ICI group was 71.4% and 52.6%, respectively, and the intracerebral disease control rate (icDCR) was 96.4% and 89.4%, respectively ( P=0.122,0.291). Univariate analysis showed that the 1-, 2- and 3-year OS rates of patients with high graded prognostic assessment (GPA) scores were 100%, 85.7% and 35.7%, respectively. The 1-, 2- and 3-year OS rates of patients with low GPA scores were 68.3%, 33.6% and 33.6%, respectively ( P=0.115). The 1-, 2- and 3-year OS rates of patients in the RT-ICI group were 88.7%, 58.7% and 44.0%, respectively, and 63.6%, 20.9% and 20.9% for their counterparts in the ICI group, respectively ( P=0.022). The 1-, 2- and 3-year OS rates of symptomatic patients with BM were 60.9%, 33.8% and 33.8%, respectively, while 84.6%, 53.1% and 39.8% for asymptomatic counterparts, respectively ( P=0.021). Multivariate analysis showed that no symptoms of BM and brain RT were the independent influencing factors of OS rate ( P=0.038, 0.037). Conclusions:First-line ICI combined with brain RT can improve the survival rate of patients with BM of NSCLC. It is recommended that patients with BM should receive RT as soon as possible, especially those with brain symptoms.

Objective:To compare the clinical characteristics and etiology changes of patients with bronchiolitis before the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)with those after the pandemic, and to provide a basis for the clinical diagnosis, treatment and prevention of bronchiolitis.Methods:Retrospective analysis were made on the clinical characteristics and etiological changes of patients who were hospitalized with bronchiolitis in the Department of Pulmonology, Children′s Hospital of Soochow University before COVID-19 pandemic(from February 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020, called as Group 2019-2020)and after COVID-19 pandemic(from February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021, called as Group 2020-2021). Medical records were reviewed to compare general conditions, clinical manifestations, and laboratory tests.Nasopharyngeal secretion examination results were collected to compare the differences in pathogenic composition.Results:A total of 285 patients were enrolled in the Group 2019-2020, while 190 patients in the Group 2020-2021.There were no significant differences in gender, age, symptom duration prior to admission and length of stay between the two groups( P>0.05). The proportion of moderate/severe cases in the Group 2020-2021 was lower than that in the Group 2019-2020[10.53%(20/190)vs 21.75%(62/285)]and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=10.062, P<0.05). The proportion of stuffy nose rhinorrhea in the Group 2020-2021 was higher than that in the Group 2019-2020, while the proportion of gastrointestinal symptoms(vomiting and diarrhea)in the Group 2020-2021 was lower than that in the Group 2019-2020 [57.37%(109/190)vs 47.37%(135/285)and 15.79%(30/190)vs 24.56 %(70/285)]and the differences were statistically significant( χ2 were 4.563 and 5.278 respectively, all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the proportions of fever, dyspnea, shortness of breath and cyanosis between the two groups(all P>0.05). The creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB)in the Group 2020-2021 was lower than that in the Group 2019-2020[4.15(2.90~5.60)vs 6.70(4.20~22.10)]and the difference was statistically significant( Z=-8.757, P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in white blood cell count(WBC), percentage of neutrophil(N%), blood platelet count(PLT), percentage of eosinophil(EOS%), C-reactive protein(CRP), alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)between the two groups(all P>0.05). The total pathogen detection rate, positive rate of respiratory syncytial virus(RSV), positive rate of mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)and mixed infection rate in the Group 2020-2021 were lower than those in the Group 2019-2020[65.26%(124/190)vs 75.09%(214/285), 14.21%(27/190)vs 30.18%(86/285), 6.32%(12/190)vs 15.09%(43/285), 16.84%(32/190)vs 25.61%(73/285)], with statistically significant differences( χ2 were 5.361, 16.026, 8.568 and 5.094 respectively, all P<0.05). The positive rate of rhinovirus in the Group 2020-2021 was higher than that in the Group 2019-2020[13.16%(25/190)vs 4.91%(14/285)]and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=10.285, P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the positive rates of human metapneumovirus, Boca virus and parainfluenza virus 3 between the two groups(all P>0.05). Conclusion:The clinical characteristics and etiology of patients with bronchiolitis have changed after the COVID-19 pandemic.The quarantine and protection measures reduce the transmission of associated pathogens and the severity of the disease.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) and the prognosis of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) treated with radiochemotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted for the clinical data of LA-NSCLC patients who received radiochemotherapy in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2013 to 2019. According to the hematologic test result of the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the patients were divided into three groups according to their LIPI scores, namely the good-LIPI group with dNLR ≤ 3 and LDH ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN), moderate-LIPI group with dNLR >3 or LDH > ULN, and poor-LIPI group with dNLR >3 and LDH > ULN. Moreover, the overall survival (OS) and the progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, the Log-rank test, and the Cox regression model.Results:A total of 238 patients were enrolled, and their median follow-up time was 37.1 months, median PFS 16.1 months, and median OS 30.6 months. The OS and PFS of the poor-LIPI group were significantly worse than those of the good- and moderate-LIPI groups ( χ2= 9.04, 2.88, P<0.05). The univariate analysis showed that the factors influencing OS included gender, pathological type, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, and LIPI ( χ2=6.10, 13.66, 10.58, 9.04, P<0.05), and the PFS was only affected by the LIPI ( χ2=2.88, P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis suggested that EGFR mutations and LIPI were independent prognostic markers for OS ( HR = 1.31, 1.36; 95% CI: 1.03-1.67, 1.05-1.76; P<0.05). Conclusions:The LIPI is a potential prognostic indicator of radiochemotherapy in LA-NSCLC, and this result should be further confirmed by prospective studies.

Objective:To analyze the data of ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) radiotherapy in GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) database by bioinformatics method, in order to find the hub genes involved in flash radiotherapy induced acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia.Methods:The gene expression profiles of malignant tumors receiving FLASH radiotherapy were downloaded from GEO database. The R software was used to screen the differential expressed genes (DEGs) and analyze their biological functions and signal pathways. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was analyzed by online tool of STRING, and Hub genes were screened by Cytoscape plug-in. The expressions of screened Hub genes in acute T lymphoblastic leukemia were identified with TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) and GTEx (Genotype-Tissue Expression) database.Results:Based on the analysis of GSE100718 microarray dataset of GEO database, a total of 12 800 genes were found to be associated with radiosensitivity of acute T lymphoblastic leukemia, of which 61 significantly altered DEGs were selected for further analysis. It was found that these genes were involved in the biological processes of metabolism, stress response, and immune response through the pathways of oxidative phosphorylation, unfolded protein response, fatty acid metabolism, and so on. PPI analysis indicated that HSPA5 and SCD belonged to the Hub genes involved in the regulation of FLASH radiosensitivity, and they were significantly highly expressed in acute T lymphoblastic leukemia combined with TRD/LMO2-fusion gene.Conclusions:Through bioinformatics analysis, the Hub genes involved in regulating the sensitivity of FLASH radiotherapy and conventional radiotherapy can be effectively screened, and thus the gene expression profiles can be used to guide the stratification of cancer patients to achieve a precise radiotherapy.