Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is cell-free DNA released by tumors or circulating tumor cells, containing abundant tumor-specific information that can serve as biomarkers for cancer early screening, monitoring, prognosis, and prediction of treatment response. This is particularly attractive in the field of gastric cancer, where high-quality screening, monitoring, and prediction methods are currently lacking. Gastric cancer exhibits significant tumor heterogeneity, with large differences in genetic and epigenetic characteristics among different subgroups. Methylated ctDNA has high sensitivity and specificity, which can help clarify tumor genotyping and facilitate the formulation of precise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, numerous studies have confirmed the unique advantages of methylated DNA in predicting treatment response, adjuvant therapy, and drug resistance assessment, which may be used in the future to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy regimens and improve patient chemotherapeutic response, and even treat multidrug resistance. However, there are several challenges associated with methylated ctDNA, such as low sensitivity and specificity at single-target sites, limited association between some gastric cancer subtypes and ctDNA, off-target risks, and the lack of large-scale and high-quality clinical research evidence. This review mainly summarizes current research on the methylation status of ctDNA in gastric cancer and connects these findings to early screening, recurrence monitoring, and potential treatment opportunities for gastric cancer. With advances in technology and the deepening of interdisciplinary research, ctDNA detection will reveal more disease information and become an essential foundation for gastric cancer research and precision medicine treatment.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is cell-free DNA released by tumors or circulating tumor cells, containing abundant tumor-specific information that can serve as biomarkers for cancer early screening, monitoring, prognosis, and prediction of treatment response. This is particularly attractive in the field of gastric cancer, where high-quality screening, monitoring, and prediction methods are currently lacking. Gastric cancer exhibits significant tumor heterogeneity, with large differences in genetic and epigenetic characteristics among different subgroups. Methylated ctDNA has high sensitivity and specificity, which can help clarify tumor genotyping and facilitate the formulation of precise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, numerous studies have confirmed the unique advantages of methylated DNA in predicting treatment response, adjuvant therapy, and drug resistance assessment, which may be used in the future to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy regimens and improve patient chemotherapeutic response, and even treat multidrug resistance. However, there are several challenges associated with methylated ctDNA, such as low sensitivity and specificity at single-target sites, limited association between some gastric cancer subtypes and ctDNA, off-target risks, and the lack of large-scale and high-quality clinical research evidence. This review mainly summarizes current research on the methylation status of ctDNA in gastric cancer and connects these findings to early screening, recurrence monitoring, and potential treatment opportunities for gastric cancer. With advances in technology and the deepening of interdisciplinary research, ctDNA detection will reveal more disease information and become an essential foundation for gastric cancer research and precision medicine treatment.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between prostatic urethral angle (PUA) and the development of surgical capsule calculi (SCC) within the prostate, and to examine the presence and impact of intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 90 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, with preoperative assessments using both transrectal ultrasound of the prostate (TRUS) and magnetic resonance imaging. Patients were divided into groups with and without SCC and further categorized into type 1 and type 2 stones based on the location and severity of the calculi. Statistical analysis included chi-square and independent sample t-tests, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Of the patients, 82.2% were diagnosed with SCC. No significant difference in PUA was found between patients with and without SCC. However, a notable disparity in IPP presence was observed, suggesting an inverse correlation with SCC development.Additionally, no significant differences were identified when comparing the two types of SCC based on PUA and IPP measurements. Conclusions The presence of IPP exhibited an inverse relationship with SCC, suggesting diminished urine flow pressure over the prostatic urethra may reduce the likelihood of SCC formation. However, no direct association between PUA and the presence or severity of SCC was identified. These findings highlight the complexity of factors contributing to prostatic calculi development and the potential role of IPP in this context.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of tinnitus in Sichuan and Chongqing. Methods: We designed a tinnitus epidemiological questionnaire. The multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling methods was applied to obtain study subjects in six areas (Nanchong, Jiangjin, Fengdu, Yunyang, Suining and Ya'an), which were selected for epidemiological investigation. Home visit completion of epidemiological questionnaires was conducted. The trained investigators guided the respondents to fill in the tinnitus epidemiological questionnaires, and the epidemiological status of six areas on prevalence and risk factor was investigated. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Sampling population were 10 289, in which 9 273 were valid questionnaires. There were 4 281 males and 4 992 females, with an average age of 47.3 years, among which 34.83% (3 230/9 273) had tinnitus. 3.99% (370/9 273) were diagnosed with bothersome tinnitus. In a multivariable logistic regression mod, the following factors were associated with onsetting of tinnitus: sleep disorder [Odds Ratio(OR)=3.74] and noise exposure(OR=1.99). The risk of disease was lowest in the age of 30-40 years old, while the risk of disease was higher for people under 30 and over 40. In another multivariable logistic regression mode, the following factors were associated with having bothersome tinnitus: older people were more likely to suffer from tinnitus, sleep disorders (OR=4.68) and noise exposure (OR=1.56). Conclusions: The prevalence of tinnitus in Sichuan and Chongqing is about 34.83%, but most of the tinnitus is short-lived and has low loudness, which will not affect the patients. Only a small number of patients with tinnitus (3.99%) persist and affect their health and need treatment. The occurrence and exacerbation of tinnitus may be related to sleep, age, and noise exposure.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus/epidemiology*

Objective: To understand the consistency of ALK Ventana-D5F3 immunohistochemistry (IHC) interpretation in Chinese lung adenocarcinoma among histopathologists from different hospitals, and to recommend solution for the problems found during the interpretation of ALK IHC in real world, with the aim of the precise selection of patients who can benefit from ALK targeted therapy. Methods: This was a multicenter and retrospective study. A total of 109 lung adenocarcinoma cases with ALK Ventana-D5F3 IHC staining were collected from 31 lung cancer centers in RATICAL research group from January to June in 2018. All cases were scanned into digital imaging with Ventana iSCANcoreo Digital Slide Scanning System and scored by 31 histopathologists from different centers according to ALK binary (positive or negative) interpretation based on its manufacturer′s protocol. The cases with high inconsistency rate were further analyzed using FISH/RT-PCR/NGS. Results: There were 49 ALK positive cases and 60 ALK negative cases, confirmed by re-evaluation by the specialist panel. Two cases (No. 2302 and No.2701) scored as positive by local hospitals were rescored as negative, and were confirmed to be negative by RT-PCR/FISH/NGS. The false interpretation rate of these two cases was 58.1% (18/31) and 48.4% (15/31), respectively. Six out of 31 (19.4%) pathologists got 100% accuracy. The minimum consistency between every two pathologists was 75.8%.At least one pathologist gave negative judgement (false negative) or positive judgement (false positive) in the 49 positive or 60 negative cases, accounted for 26.5% (13/49), 41.7% (25/60), respectively, with at least one uncertainty interpretation accounted for 31.2% (34/109). Conclusion There are certain heterogeneities and misclassifications in the real world interpretation of ALK-D5F3 IHC test, which need to be guided by the oncoming expert consensus based on the real world data.

Objective To explore the family function and simple coping style of parents with cleft lip and palate, and to promote the improvement of their emotional and family problems, and to provide some basis for the prevention of psychological problems in children with cleft lip and palate. Methods A total of 79 parents of cleft lip and cleft palate children under 6 years old were surveyed by means of family function scale and simple coping style scale.Results The was statistical significance in the correlation analysis of family function scale, solve the problem of (r=0.237, P ＜ 0.05), behavioral control (r=0.267, P ＜ 0.05). Simple coping style scale correlation analysis of positive coping in age of parents and parents showed significant statistical difference (r=-0.246, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Parents of children with cleft lip and palate have poor ability to deal with emotional reaction and problem solving when stimulating, such as emotional and emotional expression and confession, family members' lack of information communication and language communication, etc, in the face of unexpected events and dangerous situations, the behavior control model is not good, and it is easy to be at a loss; and the older parents are, the fewer positive coping styles they take. The family function and coping style of parents are of great significance to the physical and mental health of children with cleft lip and palate, and psychological intervention should be carried out in time.

Objective To explore the influence of introducing standardized patient (SP) into problem-based learning (PBL) to the autonomous learning abilities for undergraduate nursing students based on clinical thinking training. Methods To select 2 classes randomly from full-time professional nursing undergraduate classes enrolled in 2012 from Tianjin university of traditional Chinese medicine, was divided into the experimental group and the control group by random number table method. The control group uses PBL teaching mode, and the experimental group adopts introducing SP into PBL teaching mode. Course lasts for 4 weeks, a total of 18 hours. To evaluate two groups nursing students′the percentage of asking questions by themselves and examination results in the end of the course, and evaluate nursing students′autonomous learning ability before and after the course and after three months of clinical practice respectively. Results The percentage of asking questions by themselves and examination results of the experimental group were 87.80%(36/41) and (84.24±5.12) points, (87.85±5.44) points, the control group were 68.89%(31/45) and (81.51±6.63) points, (84.40±7.96) points, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.46, t=2.13, 2.37, P<0.05);There was no statistical significance between two groups in the score of autonomous learning ability before the course (P>0.05), while after course and after three months of clinical practice of the experimental group were (93.71±9.56) points, (103.27±11.92) points, the control group were (85.47 ± 9.28) points , (91.36 ± 10.56) points, the difference was statistically significant (t=3.56, 4.89, P<0.01). Conclusions The teaching mode of introducing SP into PBL can train and improve the autonomous learning ability of undergraduate nursing students,and can provide reference for nursing teaching mode reform.

Objective To explore innovative teaching mode of cultivating the communicated ability of undergraduate nursing students based on standardized patients and then evaluate its effect.Methods To select 2 classes of sophomore randomly,four-year nursing undergraduate enrolling in 2012,was divided into the experimental group and the control group.Experimental group used standardized patients as carrier of skills and control group took dummy patient as carrier of skills lasting for one academic year.Assessed by others and self-assessment was used to evaluate the communicated ability of nursing students at end of the course respectively.Results There was statistical significance between two groups in the score of communicated ability,94.39±8.18 vs 87.04±6.56,t=4.61,P ＜ 0.01.Teachers for clinical communication ability of nursing students and standardized patients for skills and clinical communication ability of nursing students were more satisfied with experimental group,the satisfactory rate in the experimental group was 63％(26/41),37％(15/41) and 56％(23/41) respectively,which were higher than those in the control group [24％(11/45),22％(10/45) and 22％(10/45)],P＜ 0.01.Conclusion It is helpful for increasing communicated ability of nursing students taking standardized patients as practice objects which could be as a reference for building teaching system of nursing students in communication.

AIM: To explore the role of PI3K/Akt/nNOS in Zhouluotong extract resisting diabetic peripheral neuropathy.METHODS:The Schwann cells were divided into normal group ( D-glucose 25 mmol/L) , model group ( D-glucose 100 mmol/L) , Zhouluotong extract Z-6 +high glucose group, Zhouluotong +high glucose group, mecobalamine+high glucose group.The viability, nitric oxide content and the Ca2+-ATPase activity in Schwann cells were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 , nitric oxide assay kit and Ca2+-ATPase assay kit, respectively.The apoptosis of Schwann cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.The expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, Bak and caspase-3, and the phosphorylation levels of nNOS and Akt were determined by Western blotting.The signal pathway of PI3K/Akt was explored by dominant negative PI3K and Akt (δp85 and DN-Akt) transient transfection assay.RESULTS:Under high-glucose culture, the cell viability, nitric oxide content in culture supernatant, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, and the phosphorylation levels of Akt and nNOS in the Schwann cells were significantly increased.The cell apoptosis, the expression of Bax, Bak and caspase 3 in the Schwann cells were significantly decreased by Zhouluotong extract Z-6, compared with model group.In-creased nitric oxide content and the up-regulation of nNOS were observed.However, the effects of blocking PI3K/Akt, the upstream pathway of nNOS , by transfection with DN-δp85 on Akt phosphorylation in the Schwann cells was still unclear. CONCLUSION:Zhouluotong extract Z-6 changes the phosphorylation of nNOS, and the expression of anti-apoptotic fac-tors , caspase-3 and pro-apoptotic factors in Schwann cells under high-glucose culture, thus reducing apoptosis and elevating viability.The relationship to PI3K/Akt/nNOS pathway needs further investigation.

The ITS/ITS2 barcodes were used to simply and effectively identify Codonopsis Radix and its adulter-ants. In this study, ITS (internal transcribed spacer of unclear ribosomal DNA) regions were amplified using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) from thirty-three samples of Codonopsis Radix and ITS2 regions were obtained from the ITS sequences using the hidden Markov model (HMMer)-based annotation methods. The sequences of ITS/ITS2 regions were aligned and the genetic distances were computed by MEGA5.0. Species identification efficiency of ITS/ITS2 sequences were evaluated using BLAST1 and nearest distance methods. The results indicated that The sequences lengths of ITS regions of Codonopsis Radix were 654-655 bp, and the lengths of ITS2 regions were 239 bp. The intraspecific genetic distances among Codonopsis Radix were obviously lower than the interspecific genetic distance between Codonopsis Radix and its adulterants. Therefore, ITS/ITS2 regions can stably and accu-rately distinguish Codonopsis Radix and its adulterants.