1.Ethical issues and countermeasures of off-label drug use in children
Limin LI ; Haipeng HU ; Xiaoqin CAO ; Xiaohong LIU
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(2):227-231
Children, as a special group, frequently experience of off-label drug use worldwide. Common reasons for off-label drug use in children include the lack of data on pediatric patients during the clinical trial stage of drug development, delayed updates to drug instructions, and the non-standard professional behavior of some doctors. Off-label drug use in children is a double-edged sword. It could save lives and provide a way to explore additional functions of drugs, while it may also lead to the phenomenon of hyper-indication abuse, increasing the risk of adverse drug events. Regulating off-label drug use in children can safeguard the best treatment rights and interests of children. It is recommended to encourage pharmaceutical enterprises to conduct research and development of pediatric new drugs, simplify the approval process for drug instructions amendments, accumulate evidence-based medical evidence for off-label drug use in children, standardize the process of off-label drug use in children in medical institutions, continuously improve the standardized diagnosis and treatment capabilities of pediatricians, and actively cooperate with the families of pediatric patients in diagnosis and treatment, so as to comprehensively safeguard the rights and interests of both doctors and patients.
2.Mediating role of health education competency in the relationship between supportive communication and general self-efficacy among medical undergraduates
Hui YIN ; Wenxuan LI ; Ying ZHANG ; Yuchun TAO ; Zehui LI ; Wei LIU ; Zuoming ZHANG ; Limin WANG ; Depin CAO
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2024;23(3):347-352
Objective:To explore the factors influencing the supportive communication ability of medical undergraduates, and to propose strategies to improve supportive communication.Methods:By cluster sampling, we selected 388 medical undergraduates of grades 2017 and 2018 from Harbin Medical University for a questionnaire survey on supportive communication, general self-efficacy, and health education abilities. SPSS 22.0 was used for descriptive statistical analysis. AMOS 22.0 was used to construct a structural equation model to verify the relationship between the three variables. Mediating effects were also tested.Results:The students showed good supportive communication ability, with a total score of (74.28±10.84) points. The general self-efficacy score was (27.81±5.58) points, and the total score of health education ability was (25.50±4.76) points. General self-efficacy had direct positive effects on supportive communication and health education abilities ( β=0.75, 0.31, both P<0.001). Health education ability had a direct positive effect on supportive communication ability ( β=0.14, P<0.001). Health education ability played a significant mediating role in the influence of general self-efficacy on supportive communication ability (standardized mediating effect value=0.042, P<0.01), with the mediating effect accounting for 5.1%. Conclusions:The health education competency of medical undergraduates can mediate the effect of general self-efficacy on supportive communication ability. By strengthening medical humanities education to increase general self-efficacy and also emphasizing the cultivation of health education competency, the supportive communication ability of students can be improved.
3.The effective connection of default mode network changes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Liying ZHANG ; Zhizhong SUN ; Limin GE ; Zidong CAO ; Weiye LU ; Wenbin QIU ; Yuna CHEN ; Shijun QIU
Chinese Journal of Diabetes 2024;32(2):91-96
Objective To investigate the influence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)on cognitive function and the effective connectivity with in the default mode network(DMN)in the brain.Methods A total of 93 hospitalized patients diagnosed with T2DM were enrolled in this study as T2DM group from The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine during September 2021 to December 2022.Simultaneously,108 healthy individuals were recruited from the community as normal control(NC)group.The cognitive functions were evaluated in the two groups.A random dynamic causal modeling approach was employed to analyze the effective connectivity within DMN in both groups.Additionally,Pearson correlation analysis was performed to examine the association between differential connectivity,clinical indicators,and cognitive scores in both groups.Results In comparison to the NC group,T2DM individuals exhibited statistically significant reductions in scores in the auditory verbal learning test(AVLT)for immediate recall and the digit symbol substitution test(DSST)(P<0.05).Additionally,they displayed a notable decrease in effective connectivity from the left lateral parietal cortex(LLPC)to the posterior cingulate cortex(PCC),as well as from the LLPC to the right lateral parietal cortex(RLPC)within the DMN(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis unveiled a negative association between HbA1c levels and the strength of effective connectivity from LLPC to PCC.Conversely,a positive correlation was observed between AVLT(immediate)scores and the strength of effective connectivity from LLPC to PCC and LLPC to RLPC.Additionally,DSST scores displayed a positive correlation with the strength of effective connectivity from LLPC to PCC(P<0.05).Conclusion Patients with T2DM display compromised effective connectivity from LLPC to PCC and LLPC to RLPC within the DMN network,and this alteration may associated with cognitive impairment.
4.The value of spectral CT combined with metal artifact reduction algorithms in improving the CT image quality for patients with 125I seeds implantation in the chest and abdomen
Yuhan ZHOU ; Limin LEI ; Zhihao WANG ; Wenpeng HUANG ; Weimeng CAO ; Shushan DONG ; Meng WANG ; Zhigang ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2024;58(2):172-179
Objective:To investigate the value of the virtual monoenergetic image (VMI) obtained by a new dual-layer detector spectral CT combined with metal artifact reduction algorithms(O-MAR) in reduction of different types of artifacts caused by 125I seeds implantation and in improvement of the post-operative CT image quality. Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Thirty-five patients who underwent dual-layer detector spectral CT scanning of the chest and abdomen after 125I seeds implantation were retrospectively included at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March to September 2022. The spectral data were collected and reconstructed into conventional CT image (CI), VMI image (50-150 keV, 20 keV/level), CI+O-MAR image, and VMI+O-MAR image (50-150 keV, 20 keV/level). The artifacts′ removal effects and image quality improvement in each group were evaluated. Two slices with the strongest artifacts were selected for analysis for each patient, resulting in a total of 70 slices. Objective indicators including artifact index (AI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of soft tissue regions affected by artifacts were measured and calculated. Subjective indicators including the overcorrected artifacts and new artifacts, the different forms of artifacts, the diagnosis of artifacts, and the image quality were assessed. One-way analysis of variance was used for comparisons among multiple groups. Paired t test was used to compare the quantitative indicators between the combined O-MAR group and the non-O-MAR group. Kappa statistics was used to evaluate the consistency between observers. Results:In high/low-density artifacts (ROI H/L), the AI values in all groups showed decrease with increasing VMI keV. In artifact-affected tissue (ROI T), SNR of the CI/VMI (70-150 keV)+O-MAR group were significantly higher than those of the CI/VMI group ( P<0.05), CNR of the CI/VMI(50-150 keV)+O-MAR group were significantly higher than those of the CI/VMI group ( P<0.05). Both overcorrection and new artifacts mainly presented in VMI 50 keV and VMI 70 keV groups; Compared with VMI (50-70 keV) group, significantly less numbers of overcorrection and new artifacts were found in VMI (50-70 keV)+O-MAR group ( P<0.05); regarding the comparison of artifact types, with the VMI keV increasing, the number of a-type banded artifacts gradually decreased on images with high-density artifacts, reaching a minimum of 3 in the VMI 150 keV+O-MAR group; while the number of e-type artifacts with little or no artifacts increased, with the highest number of 23 in the VMI 150 keV+O-MAR group. The total number of high-density artifacts in each type decreased with increasing VMI keV. As VMI keV increased, the diagnostic and image quality scores of high-density artifacts in each group were significantly higher than those of low-density artifacts in the VMI+O-MAR group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:VMI combined with O-MAR can significantly improve the objective and subjective image quality of follow-up CT imaging after 125I seed implantation, enhancing lesion visibility and diagnostic confidence. Additionally, VMI+O-MAR showed more pronounced correction effect on high-density artifacts.
5.Feasibility of low-dose CT brain perfusion scanning based on deep learning reconstruction algorithm: a preliminary study
Limin LEI ; Yuhan ZHOU ; Xiaoxu GUO ; Hui WANG ; Jinping MA ; Zhihao WANG ; Weimeng CAO ; Yuan GAO ; Yuming XU ; Songwei YUE
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2024;44(7):613-621
Objective:To compare image quality and diagnostic parameters of whole-brain CT perfusion scans under different scanning conditions and assess the utility of deep learning image reconstruction algorithm (DLIR) in reducing tube current during low-dose scans.Methods:Method A total of 105 patients with suspected acute ischemic stroke (AIS) were prospectively enrolled in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March, 2022 to March, 203 and their baseline information was recorded. All patients underwent head non-contrast CT and CT perfusion (CTP) examinations. CTP scanning was performed at 80 kV in two groups with the tube current of 150 mA (regular dose) and 100 mA (low dose), respectively. The CTP images of 150 mA group were reconstructed using filtered back-projection algorithm as well as adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V (ASIR-V) at 40% and 80% strength levels, which were denoted as groups A-C. The CTP images of 100 mA group were reconstructed using ASIR-V80%, DLIR-M, and DLIR-H, which were denoted as groups D-F. Clinical baseline characteristics and radiation doses were compared between the two groups under different scanning conditions. Furthermore, we assessed the subjective and objective image quality, conventional perfusion parameters, and abnormal perfusion parameters of AIS patients across the six groups of reconstructed CTP images.Results:Under the scanning conditions of 150 mA and 100 mA, 47 and 48 patients were diagnosed with AIS, respectively. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the two groups. However, there was a significant difference in the mean effective radiation dose (5.71 mSv vs. 3.80 mSv, t = 2 768.30, P < 0.001). The standard deviation (SD) of noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) were significantly different among the six groups of reconstructed images ( F = 40.58-212.13, P < 0.001). In GM, the SD values in groups C, D, and F were lower than those in other groups ( P < 0.05), and the SNR values in groups C and F were higher than those in other groups ( P < 0.05). In WM, the SD and SNR values in groups C and F were significantly different from those in other groups ( P < 0.05). Additionally, CNR values in groups C and F were higher than those in other groups ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in subjective scores among groups B, C, and F ( P > 0.05). Regarding perfusion parameters in the brain GM, groups D and E had lower cerebral blood volume (CBV) values compared to groups A to C ( P < 0.05), and group F had lower CBV values than group B ( P < 0.05). In the brain WM, group D had consistently lower mean transit time (MTT) values compared to the other groups ( P < 0.05). Notably, there were no significant differences in AIS lesion detection rates and relevant diagnostic parameters across the six image groups. Conclusions:Low-tube current CTP scan combined with the DLIR-H algorithm can enhance image quality without affecting perfusion parameters such as CBV and MTT, while reducing radiation dose by 30%. This algorithm can be routinely applied in brain CTP examinations.
6.The best evidence summary for prevention and rehabilitation nursing of pregnancy-induced diastasis recti abdominis
Min LI ; Wenping HAN ; Limin HAO ; Peishan CHAI ; Qiao SUN ; Yanxing CAO ; Jiaxin SONG
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2024;59(18):2261-2268
Objective To retrieve,evaluate and summarize the best evidence summary for prevention and nursing care of pregnancy-induced diastasis recti abdominis and to provide references for clinical practice.Methods We systematically searched computer decision support systems,guideline websites,association official websites and databases for evidence on prevention and nursing care of pregnancy-induced diastasis recti abdominis,including guidelines,expert consensuses,clinical decision-making,systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials.The retrieval period was from the inception of databases to January 2024.There were 4 researchers who evaluated the quality of the included literature independently,extracted and summarized the evidence according to the subject.Results A total of 18 articles were included,including 2 clinical decisions,4 guidelines,5 expert consensuses,3 systematic reviews,and 4 randomized controlled trials.24 pieces of best evidence were summarized from 5 aspects,including the antenatal prevention,team building,nursing assessment,intervention strategies,and effecti-veness evaluation.Conclusion This study summarizes the best evidence summary for prevention and nursing care of pregnancy-induced diastasis recti abdominis,which can provide a reference basis for nurses to manage diastasis recti abdominis and improve the life quality of maternal woman.
7.Role and Mechanism of Lactylation in Cancer
ZHANG QICHENG ; CAO LIMIN ; XU KE
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2024;27(6):471-479
Post translational modifications(PTMs)can change the properties of a protein by covalent addition of functional groups to one or more amino acids,and influence almost all aspects of normal cell biology and pathogenesis.Lacty-lation is a novel identified PTM,and has been found in both histone and non-histone proteins.Since associated with the end product of glycolysis--lactate,lactylation modification could provide a new perspective for understanding the relationship be-tween metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic modifications.Accumulated evidences suggest that lactylation play important roles in tumor progression and links to poor prognosis in clinical studies.Histone lactylation can affect gene expression in tu-mor cells and immunological cells,further promoting tumor progression and immune suppression.Lactylation on non-histone proteins can also regulate tumor progression and drug resistance.In this review,we aimed to summarize the roles of lactylation in cancer progression,microenvironment interactions and immune suppression,try to identify new molecular targets for can-cer therapy and provide a new direction for combined targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
8.Exploring Changes in the Microstructure of the Corpus Callosum in Adult Primary Hypothyroidism Based on Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Jiancang CAO ; Gang HUANG ; Chen CHEN ; Wenxiu SU ; Limin TIAN ; Lianping ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging 2024;32(6):539-546
Purpose This study uses the diffusion tensor imaging to explore diffusion metrics changes of corpus callosum subregion,and to further analyze the relationship among these changes and the cognitive and emotional in adults with primary hypothyroidism.Materials and Methods From October 2019 to September 2021,32 hypothyroidism patients were recruited from Gansu Provincial Hospital,whereas 33 healthy controls were recruited through advertisements.The comprehensive thyroid-related hormone levels tests,as well as neurocognitive/neuropsychiatric assessment and diffusion tensor imaging data of all participants were carried out.The differences in corpus callosum subgroups of diffusion metrics between the two groups were recorded and compared,the partial relationships between these diffusion metrics and thyroid-related hormone levels and neurocognitive/neuropsychiatric function were analyzed and measured.Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic performance.Results Lower fraction anisotropy,higher mean diffusivity and radial diffusivity in genu and body of the corpus callosum and higher axial diffusivity in genu of the corpus callosum were found in hypothyroidism compared with healthy controls(P<0.01).These diffusion metrics were negatively correlated with cognition and emotion(r=-0.448-0.440,P=0.010-0.043),and the fraction anisotropy value in genu of the corpus callosum had the largest area under the curve(0.777).Conclusion Hypothyroidism patients show widespread microstructural changes within the genu and body of the corpus callosum,which,respectively,associated with cognition and emotion.This study provides a new perspective to further understanding the pathophysiology of the cerebral impairment in hypothyroidism.
9.Healthy Lifestyle and the Risk of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease: A Large Prospective Cohort Study
Qing CHANG ; Yixiao ZHANG ; Tingjing ZHANG ; Zuyun LIU ; Limin CAO ; Qing ZHANG ; Li LIU ; Shaomei SUN ; Xing WANG ; Ming ZHOU ; Qiyu JIA ; Kun SONG ; Yang DING ; Yuhong ZHAO ; Kaijun NIU ; Yang XIA
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2024;48(5):971-982
Background:
The incidence density of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and the effect of a healthy lifestyle on the risk of MAFLD remain unknown. We evaluated the prevalence and incidence density of MAFLD and investigated the association between healthy lifestyle and the risk of MAFLD.
Methods:
A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 37,422 participants to explore the prevalence of MAFLD. A cohort analysis of 18,964 individuals was conducted to identify the incidence of MAFLD, as well as the association between healthy lifestyle and MAFLD. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with adjustments for confounding factors.
Results:
The prevalence of MAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and their comorbidities were 30.38%, 28.09%, and 26.13%, respectively. After approximately 70 thousand person-years of follow-up, the incidence densities of the three conditions were 61.03, 55.49, and 51.64 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle was associated with a 19% decreased risk of MAFLD (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.92), and the effects were modified by baseline age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Subgroup analyses revealed that younger participants, men, and those with a lower BMI experienced more significant beneficial effects from healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion
Our results highlight the beneficial effect of adherence to a healthy lifestyle on the prevention of MAFLD. Health management for improving dietary intake, physical activity, and smoking and drinking habits are critical to improving MAFLD.
10.Clinicopathological features and prognosis of 128 children with idiopathic membranous nephropathy
Junmei LIU ; Peipei SHI ; Limin JIA ; Lu CAO ; Huating ZHANG ; Qin WANG ; Jianjiang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2023;38(6):452-456
Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological features and prognosis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) in children, and to investigate the factors influencing their prognosis.Methods:The clinical and pathological data of 128 children with IMN hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2012 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.They were divided into 2 groups according to the pathological manifestations: group A[typical membranous nephropathy(MN) group] and group B (atypical MN group), and the clinicopathological characteristics of the 2 groups were compared.Different treatment regimens and their efficacy were summarized, and the prognosis and its influencing factors were analyzed.The primary endpoint event at follow-up was the occurrence of end stage renal disease (ESRD), and the secondary endpoint event was the occurrence of renal insufficiency.Children with IMN were further divided into endpoint event group and non-endpoint event group according to the presence or absence of endpoint events at the last follow-up.Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve method.The Cox proportional risk model method was used to analyze the factors influencing the prognosis of poor kidney outcomes in children with IMN. Results:(1)A total of 128 children were included, with the male-to-female ratio of 1.13∶1.00.The median age of onset and peak age of onset were 13.0 (10.3, 15.0) years, and 12-16 years (68.8%), respectively.Massive proteinuria was detected in 119 cases (93.0%), including 103 cases (80.5%) with massive proteinuria and hematuria, 4 cases(3.1%) with simple hematuria, and 5 cases (3.9%) with non-renal proteinuria.There were 29 cases (22.7%) in group A and 99 cases (77.3%) in group B. (2)Blood triacylglycerol level was significantly higher in group B than that of group A[2.1 (1.5, 3.0) mmol/L vs.1.7(1.1, 2.5) mmol/L], while high-density lipoprotein[1.5(1.1, 1.8) mmol/L vs.1.8(1.4, 2.1) mmol/L], serum albumin[22.0(17.0, 27.3) g/L vs.25.5 (21.0, 32.5) g/L] and complement C3[(1.1±0.2) g/L vs.(1.2±0.2) g/L] were significantly lower in group B than those of group A (all P<0.05). (3)Complete clinical data during hospitalization and follow-up data were obtained from 91 children with IMN, with a median follow-up time of 87.0 (49.0, 104.5) months.Among them, 5 cases (5.5%) progressed to ESRD, involving 3 cases received renal transplantation, and 9 cases (9.9%) had secondary endpoints.Cumulative renal survival rate for ESRD at 5 and 10 years were 96.2% and 92.9%, respectively, which, for the secondary endpoints at 5 and 10 years were 95.2% and 84.8%, respectively.(4)Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed no significant difference in the cumulative renal survival between group A and group B ( P>0.05). Multifactorial Cox regression analysis showed that tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis was an independent risk factor for renal insufficiency in children with IMN ( HR=0.102, 95% CI: 0.011-0.940, P<0.05). Conclusions:Massive proteinuria combined with hematuria is the major clinical manifestation of IMN in children, and atypical MN is the major pathological manifestation.Tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis is an independent risk factor for renal insufficiency in children with IMN.

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