Esophageal carcinoma is a malignant disease with a high incidence rate and poor prognosis. The mitochondrial apoptosis pathway plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cell death and has become a focal point in current cancer therapeutics research. Various active components from traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can target the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway to inhibit esophageal carcinoma， presenting as potential therapeutic agents for this disease. This paper summarizes relevant research on the inhibition of esophageal carcinoma by active components in TCM via targeting the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. It has been found that flavonoids （casticin， icariin， luteolin， kaempferol， hesperetin， deguelin， etc.）， terpenoids （oridonin， Jaridonin， artesunate， ethyl acetate fraction of pleurotus ferulatus triterpenoid， etc.）， alkaloids （matrine， swainsonine， etc.）， polyphenols （curcumin， epigallocatechin-3-gallate， corilagin， etc.）， steroids （α-hederin， polyphyllin Ⅵ， etc.）， phenols （optimized scorpion venom peptide CT-K3K7， gecko active polypeptide， etc.）， volatile oils （cinnamaldehyde， α -asarone， etc.） and other active components from TCM can target the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis pathway， induce apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma cells， and inhibit their proliferation， invasion and migration by regulating oxidative stress， blocking the cell cycle， regulating signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt and MAPK.

Objective To evaluate the predictive ability and clinical application value of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in the benign and malignant differentiation and pathological type of pulmonary nodules, and to summarize clinical application experience. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with pulmonary nodules admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, from February 2016 to February 2025. Firstly, pulmonary nodules were divided into benign and non-benign groups, and the discriminative abilities of AI systems and clinicians were compared. Subsequently, lung nodules reported as precursor glandular lesions (PGL), microinvasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), and invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC) in postoperative pathological results were analyzed, comparing the efficacy of AI systems and clinicians in predicting the pathological type of pulmonary nodules. Results In the analysis of benign/non-benign pulmonary nodules, clinical data from a total of 638 patients with pulmonary nodules were included, of which there were 257 males (10 patients and 1 patient of double and triple primary lesions, respectively) and 381 females (18 patients and 1 patient of double and triple primary lesions, respectively), with a median age of 55.0 (47.0, 61.0) years. Different lesions in the same patient were analyzed as independent samples. Univariate analysis of the two groups of variables showed that, except for nodule location, the differences in the remaining variables were statistically significant (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, nodule type (subsolid pulmonary nodule), average density, spicule sign, and vascular convergence sign were independent influencing factors for non-benign pulmonary nodules, among which age, nodule type (subsolid pulmonary nodule), spicule sign, and vascular convergence sign were positively correlated with non-benign pulmonary nodules, while average density was negatively correlated with the occurrence of non-benign pulmonary nodules. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the malignancy risk value given by the AI system in predicting non-benign pulmonary nodules was 0.811, slightly lower than the 0.898 predicted by clinicians. In the PGL/MIA/IAC analysis, clinical data from a total of 411 patients with pulmonary nodules were included, of which there were 149 males (8 patients of double primary lesions) and 262 females (17 patients of double primary lesions), with a median age of 56.0 (50.0, 61.0) years. Different lesions in the same patient were analyzed as independent samples. Univariate analysis results showed that, except for gender, nodule location, and vascular convergence sign, the differences in the remaining variables among the three groups of PGL, MIA, and IAC patients were statistically significant (P<0.05). Multinomial multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the differences between the parameters in the PGL group and the MIA group were not statistically significant (P>0.05), and the maximum diameter and average density of the nodules were statistically different between the PGL and IAC groups (P<0.05), and were positively correlated with the occurrence of IAC as independent risk factors. The average AUC value, accuracy, recall rate, and F1 score of the AI system in predicting lung nodule pathological type were 0.807, 74.3%, 73.2%, and 68.5%, respectively, all better than the clinical physicians’ prediction of lung nodule pathological type indicators (0.782, 70.9%, 66.2%, and 63.7% respectively). The AUC value of the AI system in predicting IAC was 0.853, and the sensitivity, specificity, and optimal cutoff value were 0.643, 0.943, and 50.0%, respectively. Conclusion This AI system has demonstrated high clinical value in predicting the benign and malignant nature and pathological type of lung nodules, especially in predicting lung nodule pathological type, its ability has surpassed that of clinical physicians. With the optimization of algorithms and the adequate integration of multimodal data, it can better assist clinical physicians in formulating individualized diagnostic and treatment plans for patients with lung nodules.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide and a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Early-stage lung cancer is often manifested as pulmonary nodules, and accurate assessment of the malignancy risk is crucial for prolonging survival and avoiding overtreatment. This study aims to construct a model based on image feature parameters automatically extracted by artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate its effectiveness in predicting the malignancy of part-solid nodule (PSN). METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 229 PSN from 222 patients who underwent pulmonary nodule resection at Lanzhou University Second Hospital between October 2020 and February 2025. According to pathological results, 45 cases of benign lesions and precursor glandular lesion were categorized into the non-malignant group, and 184 cases of pulmonary malignancies were categorized into the malignant group. All patients underwent preoperative chest computed tomography (CT), and AI software was used to extract imaging feature parameters. Univariate analysis was used to screen significant variables; variance inflation factor (VIF) was calculated to exclude highly collinear variables, and LASSO regression was further applied to identify key features. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to determine independent risk factors. Based on the selected variables, five models were constructed: Logistic regression, random forest, XGBoost, LightGBM, and support vector machine (SVM). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the performance of the models. RESULTS: The independent risk factors for the malignancy of PSN include roughness (ngtdm), dependence variance (gldm), and short run low gray-level emphasis (glrlm). Logistic regression achieved area under the curves ( AUCs) of 0.86 and 0.89 in the training and testing sets, respectively, showing good performance. XGBoost had AUCs of 0.78 and 0.77, respectively, demonstrating relatively balanced performance, but with lower accuracy. SVM showed an AUC of 0.93 in the training set, which decreased to 0.80 in the testing set, indicating overfitting. LightGBM performed excellently in the training set with an AUC of 0.94, but its performance declined in the testing set, with an AUC of 0.88. In contrast, random forest demonstrated stable performance in both the training and testing sets, with AUCs of 0.89 and 0.91, respectively, exhibiting high stability and excellent generalizability. CONCLUSIONS The random forest model constructed based on independent risk factors demonstrated the best performance in predicting the malignancy of PSN and could provide effective auxiliary predictions for clinicians, supporting individualized treatment decisions.
.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Artificial Intelligence ; Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Adult ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule/diagnostic imaging* ; ROC Curve

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have shown that N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor(NMDA)receptors are associated with fluorine,but the role in fluoride-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:To observe the changes of excitatory neurotransmitter NMDA receptor and endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1α-ASK1-JNK pathway protein expression in brain tissue of rats with experimental fluorosis,and to investigate the pathogenesis of neurological injury in fluorosis by giving NMDA receptor inhibitor to SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS:(1)Animal model:18 1-month-old SD rats were randomly divided into control group(drinking water fluoride content<0.5 mg/L),low fluoride group(drinking water fluoride content 10.0 mg/L)and high fluoride group(drinking water fluoride content 100.0 mg/L),with 6 rats in each group,half of each sex.After 6 months of fluoride intake,the rats were observed for the occurrence of dental fluorosis,and the 24-hour urinary fluoride content was measured.After anesthesia and euthanasia,the brain tissue of rats was taken to observe the pathological changes.Western blot assay was used to detect NMDA receptors and IRE1α,ASK1 and JNK protein expression in the brain tissue.(2)Cell model:SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and treated with sodium fluoride at final concentrations of 0.3 mmol/L and 3 mmol/L.The fluoride-stained cells were interfered with 10 μmol/L NMDA receptor antagonists Ifenprodil and MK-801 to observe the relevant protein changes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The incidence of dental fluorosis and urinary fluoride level in rats in the high fluoride group were significantly higher than that in the control and low fluoride groups(P<0.05).(2)Compared with the control group,the cytoplasm of neuronal cells in the CA3 area of the hippocampus in the low fluoride group was slightly more basophilic,while the neuronal cells in the CA3 area of the high fluoride group were disorganized,with increased basophilicity and some of the nuclei solidified.(3)In rat brain tissue,the expressions of NR2A in the high fluoride group and NR2B in the low fluoride group were significantly higher compared with the control group(P<0.05),and NR2B,IRE1,ASK1,and p-JNK protein expression levels were increased in the high fluoride group compared with the control and low fluoride groups(P<0.05).(4)In SH-SY5Y cells,NR1,NR2A and NR2B protein expressions were significantly increased in the high fluoride group compared to the control group(P<0.05).The protein levels of NR1 and NR2A were significantly reduced in the high fluorine + Ifenprodil group and high fluorine + MK-801 group compared with the high fluorine group(P<0.05).NR2B protein expression was significantly lower in the high fluorine + Ifenprodil group than that in the high fluorine group(P<0.05).(5)In SH-SY5Y cells,IRE1,ASK1,and p-JNK protein expression was significantly higher in the high fluoride group compared with the control group(P<0.05),while ASK1 and p-JNK protein expressions were significantly decreased in the high fluorine + Ifenprodil group and high fluorine + MK-801 group compared with the high fluorine group(P<0.05).IRE1 protein level was significantly lower in the high fluorine + Ifenprodil group than that in the high fluorine group(P<0.05).(6)It is concluded that excessive fluorine intake activates NMDA receptors in the central nervous system,causing increased expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1α,ASK1,and p-JNK proteins,and the use of NMDA receptor inhibitors has a mitigating effect on endoplasmic reticulum stress caused by fluorosis.

Plague is a virulent infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis. There have been three plague pandemics in the world history, of which the third plague pandemic started in Yunnan, China in 1772, and became a global pandemic in 1894, affecting many countries in Asia, Europe, America, Oceania and Africa. It has been reported that the third plague pandemic was caused by the branch of Yersinia pestis 1.ORI. This paper summarizes the origin, transmission route, distribution area and ecological environment of 1.ORI clade and the relationship with the third plague pandemic, which has guiding significance for further understanding and studying the epidemiological pattern of plague, formulating appropriate surveillance programmes and prevention and control measures.

Objective:To describe functional disability rate of anxiety disorders in Chinese community adults and explore related risk factors of functional disability.Methods:To conduct in-depth data analysis on China Mental Health Survey(CMHS).The diagnostic tool for anxiety disorders was the Composite International Diagnostic Inter-view-3.0,according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders,Fourth Edition(DSM-Ⅳ).The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule,2nd edition,was the functional disability assessment standard for anxiety disorders.Weighted 12-month functional disability rate of DSM-Ⅳ anxiety disorder with co-morbidities and only anxiety disorder in population and those in patients,as well as days of partial disability were calculated.The effects of anxiety disorders comorbid other mental disorders and physical diseases and demographic factors on the severity and occurrence of functional disability were analyzed by multiple linear regression and logis-tic regression.Results:The functional disability rate of anxiety disorder with comorbidities in population was 1.7％,and 42.2％in patients,in which constituent rate of grade-four disability was the highest as 84.1％.The functional disability rate of only anxiety disorder in population was 0.3％,and 17.8％in patients.The medians of days of partial disability days in the past 30 days were from 0 to 14.42.Multiple linear regression showed a positive association between comorbid anxiety disorder with other mental disorders and physical diseases(β=0.24),comor-bid other mental disorders and physical diseases(β=0.21),physical diseases(β=0.18),comorbid anxiety disor-der and physical diseases(β=0.15),comorbid anxiety disorder with other mental disorders(β=0.08),other men-tal disorders(β=0.07),only anxiety disorder(β=0.06),lower education level(β=0.12),lower economic status(β=0.08),older age(β=0.06),non-marital status(β=0.06),male(β=0.02)and the severity of functional dis-ability.Logistic regression showed that comorbid anxiety with other mental disorders and physical diseases(OR=64.07),comorbid anxiety disorders with other mental disorders(OR=36.75),comorbid other mental disorders with physical diseases(OR=20.60),comorbid anxiety with physical diseases(OR=18.88),anxiety disorder(OR=9.20),other mental disorders(OR=6.65),physical diseases(OR=4.00),65 years old and over(OR=4.40),50 to 64 years old(OR=2.33),low economic status(OR=2.10),illiterate and below primary school educational level(OR=1.89),middle economic status(OR=1.70),elementary school educational level(OR=1.59),non-marital status(OR=1.47),male(OR=1.16)were the risk factors of the occurrence of functional disability.Conclusion:Comorbidity of anxiety disorders and other mental disorders,and physical diseases increases severity and occurrence of functional disability.Comorbidity,male,gender,older age,lower economic and educa-tional level and non-marital are risk factors of anxiety disorder functional disability.

Objective:To compare the characteristics of gait disorders between patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus(iNPH)and Parkinson's disease(PD)patients.Methods:General clinical data and gait assessment results of 16 iNPH patients, 20 PD patients, and 23 healthy adults seeking treatment at Tianjin Huanhu Hospital between January 2020 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Gait analysis was conducted using the Mobility Lab? system with APDM Opal sensors from the US.Results:The 16 patients in the iNPH group had a mean age of(68.81±8.73), the 20 patients in the PD group had a mean age of(65.05±10.15), and the 23 adults in the control group had a mean age of(59.96±6.20).There was no significant difference in age between the iNPH group and the PD group( P>0.05).However, the iNPH group was older than the healthy control group( t=3.71, P<0.05).The disease duration of the iNPH group was(22.94±23.19)months, which was shorter than(92.60±53.70)months in the PD group( t=5.23, P<0.05).The mini-mental state examination(MMSE)score(17.13±7.08)and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)score(11.75±5.43)of the iNPH group were significantly lower than those in the PD group[(24.17±4.73), t=3.45, P<0.05、(21.29±5.82), t=4.86, P<0.05]and the control group[(26.70±1.61), t=5.31, P<0.05、(22.78±3.30), t=7.89, P<0.05].Compared with the PD group, the iNPH group had a significantly lower foot clearance[right: (1.65±0.76)cm vs.(2.56±1.30)cm]and smaller bilateral toe-off angles[left: (20.59±6.11)° vs.(28.43±6.36)°; right: (20.78±6.88)° vs.(28.12±7.49)°, t=3.74、3.02, respectively, all P<0.05].There were statistically significant differences in all gait parameters in iNPH patients compared with the control group( P<0.05). Conclusions:iNPH patients exhibit clear gait disturbance, which is more prominent than in PD patients.The wearable gait analysis system can accurately assess gait disorders in iNPH patients, and can be applied to gait assessment and the development of rehabilitation plans.

Cancer stem cell-like cells (CSCs) play an integral role in the heterogeneity, metastasis, and treatment resistance of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) due to their high tumor initiation capacity and plasticity. Here, we identified a candidate gene named LIMP-2 as a novel therapeutic target regulating HNSCC progression and CSC properties. The high expression of LIMP-2 in HNSCC patients suggested a poor prognosis and potential immunotherapy resistance. Functionally, LIMP-2 can facilitate autolysosome formation to promote autophagic flux. LIMP-2 knockdown inhibits autophagic flux and reduces the tumorigenic ability of HNSCC. Further mechanistic studies suggest that enhanced autophagy helps HNSCC maintain stemness and promotes degradation of GSK3β, which in turn facilitates nuclear translocation of β-catenin and transcription of downstream target genes. In conclusion, this study reveals LIMP-2 as a novel prospective therapeutic target for HNSCC and provides evidence for a link between autophagy, CSC, and immunotherapy resistance.
Humans ; Autophagy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/metabolism* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology* ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/pathology* ; Lysosome-Associated Membrane Glycoproteins

{L-End}Objective To investigate the current status of sleep quality and its influencing factors among coal miners in a company in Shanxi Province. {L-End}Methods A total of 1 047 coal miners from a coal mine company in Shanxi Province were selected as the study subjects by convenient sampling method. The occupational stress, occupational burnout and sleep quality of the study subjects were investigated using Occupational Stress Core Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index Scale. {L-End}Results The detection rates of occupational stress, occupational burnout, sleep disorder were 58.9%, 59.1% and 57.9%, respectively. The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that education level, alcohol consumption, work shift, duration of dust-exposure, phase of respiratory symptoms, self-assessment of health, occupational stress and occupational burnout were independent influencing factors of sleep disorders in the coal miners (all P<0.05). Among them, the risk of sleep disorders in drinkers was higher than that in non-drinkers (P<0.05); the risk of sleep disorders was higher in miners working in a rotating work shift with two shifts than in those with three shifts (P<0.05); the higher the education level, the longer the duration of dust-exposure, the more serious the phase of respiratory symptoms, the worse the self-assessment of health, the higher the degree of occupational stress and the higher the degree of occupational burnout, the higher the risk of sleep disorders (all P<0.05). {L-End}Conclusion The incidence of sleep disorders in coal miners in this company is relatively high. Occupational stress, occupational burnout, education level, alcohol consumption, work shift, duration of dust-exposure, respiratory symptoms and health status are risk factors for sleep disorders in coal miners.