To introduce and analyze guideline terminology related to clinical question formulation, evidence retrieval and appraisal, and recommendation development.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score in the prognosis of patients with advanced diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).Methods:A retrospective case series study was performed. The clinical data of 654 patients newly diagnosed with advanced DLBCL diagnosed in 7 medical centers in Huaihai Lymphoma Working Group from October 2009 to January 2022 were retrospectively collected. All the patients received rituximab-based immune chemotherapy regimens. The patients were randomly assigned to the training set (458 cases) and the validation set (196 cases) in a 7:3 ratio. The clinicopathological data of patients were collected, and the CONUT score was calculated based on albumin, lymphocyte count, and total cholesterol. The optimal critical value of CONUT scote was determined by using MaxStat method. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curves; Cox proportional hazards model was used to make univariate analysis and multivariate analysis on the factors influencing overall survival (OS). The efficacy of CONUT score in combination with the International prognostic index (IPI) and an enhanced IPI (NCCN-IPI) in predicting OS was evaluated by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results:The median follow-up time of 654 patients was 38.1 months (95% CI: 35.3 months- 40.9 months), and the 5-year OS rate was 49.2%. According to the MaxStat method, the optimal critical value for CONUT score was determined to be 6 points. All the patients were classified into the normal nutritional status group (CONUT score ≤ 6 points, 489 cases) and the poor nutritional status group (CONUT score > 6 points, 165 cases). The results of the multivariate analysis showed that CONUT score > 6 points, male, lactate dehydrogenase >240 U/L, high white blood cell count, low hemoglobin level and age > 60 years were independent risk factors for OS of patients with advanced DLBCL (all P < 0.05). Patients in the poor nutritional status group (CONUT score > 6 points) had worse OS compared with that in the normal nutritional status group in the overall cohort of advanced DLBCL. Subgroup analysis revealed that among patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-performance status (ECOG PS) score < 2 points, IPI low-intermediate risk, IPI intermediate-high risk, NCCN-IPI low-intermediate risk, and NCCN-IPI intermediate-high risk, the patients in the poor nutritional status group (CONUT score > 6 points) had worse OS compared with that in the normal nutritional status group (CONUT score ≤ 6 points) (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:CONUT score has a certain value in the assessment of the prognosis of patients with advanced DLBCL, and its predictive efficacy is further improved when combined with IPI and NCCN-IPI.

Diagnostic criteria, as a critical component of clinical practice guidelines, play a direct role in guiding clinicians' diagnostic and treatment decisions. Although China has increasingly emphasized the development and updating of clinical guidelines in recent years, research focusing on the diagnostic criteria within these guidelines remains limited. This paper aims to explore the types of diagnostic criteria, the issues they present, and the processes involved in their formulation. Based on this analysis, suggestions are proposed to improve the recommendation and application of diagnostic criteria in Chinese guidelines.

Diagnostic criteria, as a critical component of clinical practice guidelines, play a direct role in guiding clinicians' diagnostic and treatment decisions. Although China has increasingly emphasized the development and updating of clinical guidelines in recent years, research focusing on the diagnostic criteria within these guidelines remains limited. This paper aims to explore the types of diagnostic criteria, the issues they present, and the processes involved in their formulation. Based on this analysis, suggestions are proposed to improve the recommendation and application of diagnostic criteria in Chinese guidelines.

  Objective  To promote the development of high-quality health standards in China and summarize the characteristics of global health standards management systems and development processes.  Methods  We conducted a systematic search of relevant databases and the websites of standardization institutions. A descriptive method was used to analyze the basic characteristics of the standard management systems and development processes.  Results  The majority of the investigated countries and organizations primarily implement voluntary standards, with the exception of Chinese and the European Committee for Standardization that enforce compulsory standards. All countries and organizations have health standards at the national, group, and enterprise levels. In China and Japan, standards authorities are subordinate to the government, while in other countries or organizations, they operate as independent civil societies. The development process for health standards generally involves five stages: "Project/Proposal → Draft → Enquiry → Review → Publication". However, the specific steps in the development of health standards vary across different countries and organizations. Furthermore, China ranks high in the number of both standards and health standards issued, but the proportion of health standards is only 2.06%.  Conclusions  There are significant differences between China and other countries in terms of the management system and development process of health standards. To promote the management and development of high-quality health standards in China, we recommend promoting the coordination mechanism for standard development, increasing efforts to publicize standards and evaluate the implementation effect, strengthening the construction of personnel for the development of health standards, optimizing the efficiency of standard development and improving the internationalization level of health standards.

Surgery is the preferred treatment for resectable esophageal cancer, but in locally advanced esophageal cancer, the effect of surgery alone is not ideal, so surgery-based comprehensive treatment is the best option. Neoadjuvant therapy has become a standard treatment in the treatment of locally advanced resectable esophageal cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiochemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, etc. With the significant efficacy and acceptable toxicity of immunotherapy in the first-line and second-line treatment of advanced esophageal cancer, neoadjuvant immunotherapy has become a research hotspot of locally advanced resectable esophageal cancer. This article reviews the latest research progress and some limitations of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in locally advanced resectable esophageal cancer.

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.

Craniovertebral junction malformation is a congenital malformation located in the foramen magnum and upper cervical spine, including bone and nerve malformation, resulting in motor and sensory disorders, cerebellar and lower cranial nerves, etc. The evaluation methods of clinical symptoms and efficacy of craniovertebral junction malformation are important for the surgical indications and effects, mainly including the evaluation of clinical symptoms and the quality of life. At present, the commonly used methods in clinical work and literature are the Japanese orthopaedic association scores, visual analogue scales, 36-item short-form health survey, etc. Most of these clinical evaluations are not aimed at craniovertebral junction diseases but focus on the description of a certain type of clinical symptoms. Chicago Chiari outcome scale and syringomyelia outcome scale of Xuanwu hospital are dedicated to Craniovertebral junction malformation, but more clinical studies are needed to prove their effectiveness. Based on the literature reports, this article reviewed the previous clinical evaluation methods of craniovertebral junction malformation and discusses their applications and limitations.

Objective Study clinic effect of mini open endoscope assisted-ACDF(MOEA-ACDF)for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy(CSR).Methods From February 2022 to March 2023,CSR patients receiving ACDF in the hospital were included in this study,including conventional ACDF group and MOEA-ACDF group.The preoperative data,operative timeand bone graft fusionwere recorded,VAS score,JOA score,C2-7 Cobb angle and anterior column height of the surgical segment were assessed before and after surgery,and complications were recorded,including wound infection,poor wound healing,hematoma formation,cerebrospinal fluid leakage,nerve injury,and complications related internal fixation.Results There were 41 patients in the conventional ACDF group and 41 patients in the MOEA-ACDF group.Between the two groups,there was no statistically significant difference in preoperative general condition,and there was no statistically significant difference in postoperative VAS pain score,JOA score,C2-7 Cobb angle,and anterior column height.Compared with the conventional ACDF group,the MOEA-ACDF group had a slightly longer surgical time(P=0.02).Compared with pre-operation,the VAS pain scorewas reduced,JOA score,C2-7 Cobb angle,and anterior column height were improved in both groups after operation.There were no postoperative complications such as wound infection,poor wound healing,hematoma formation,cerebrospinal fluid leakage,or nerve damage in both groups.Conclusions The MOEA-ACDF technology for treating CSR can effectively alleviate clinical symptoms,restore cervical spine height and curvature,and achieve clinical effects similar to conventional ACDF surgery,having good effectiveness and safety.Although the operation time of MOEA-ACDF technology is slightly longer than conventional ACDF,it has the advantages of clear and broad surgical field,deep focus,good lighting,less bleeding,and minimal trauma,which makes it con-venient for the operator to perform cervical disc removal,nerve root canal release,posterior longitudinal ligament resection,and reduce nerve,spinal cord,dura mater,and vertebral artery injuries.It is a technology worth pro-moting and applying.

Background:Following the short-term outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)in December 2022 in China,clinical data on kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)with COVID-19 are lacking.Methods:We conducted a single-center retrospective study to describe the clinical features,complications,and mortality rates of hospitalized KTRs infected with COVID-19 between Dec.16,2022 and Jan.31,2023.The patients were followed up until Mar.31,2023.Results:A total of 324 KTRs with COVID-19 were included.The median age was 49 years.The median time between the onset of symptoms and admission was 13 d.Molnupiravir,azvudine,and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir were administered to 67(20.7%),11(3.4%),and 148(45.7%)patients,respectively.Twenty-nine(9.0%)patients were treated with more than one antiviral agent.Forty-eight(14.8%)patients were treated with tocilizumab and 53(16.4%)patients received baricitinib therapy.The acute kidney injury(AKI)occurred in 81(25.0%)patients and 39(12.0%)patients were admitted to intensive care units.Fungal infections were observed in 55(17.0%)patients.Fifty(15.4%)patients lost their graft.The 28-d mortality rate of patients was 9.0%and 42(13.0%)patients died by the end of follow-up.Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified that cerebrovascular disease,AKI incidence,interleukin(IL)-6 level of>6.8 pg/mL,daily dose of corticosteroids of>50 mg,and fungal infection were all associated with an increased risk of death for hospitalized patients.Conclusions:Our findings demonstrate that hospitalized KTRs with COVID-19 are at high risk of mortality.The administration of immunomodulators or the late application of antiviral drugs does not improve patient survival,while higher doses of corticosteroids may increase the death risk.