Ultrahigh-energy photons up to 1.4 petaelectronvolts from 12 γ-ray Galactic sources.

The extension of the cosmic-ray spectrum beyond 1 petaelectronvolt (PeV; 1015 electronvolts) indicates the existence of the so-called PeVatrons-cosmic-ray factories that accelerate particles to PeV energies. We need to locate and identify such objects to find the origin of Galactic cosmic rays1. The principal signature of both electron and proton PeVatrons is ultrahigh-energy (exceeding 100 TeV) γ radiation. Evidence of the presence of a proton PeVatron has been found in the Galactic Centre, according to the detection of a hard-spectrum radiation extending to 0.04 PeV (ref. 2). Although γ-rays with energies slightly higher than 0.1 PeV have been reported from a few objects in the Galactic plane3-6, unbiased identification and in-depth exploration of PeVatrons requires detection of γ-rays with energies well above 0.1 PeV. Here we report the detection of more than 530 photons at energies above 100 teraelectronvolts and up to 1.4 PeV from 12 ultrahigh-energy γ-ray sources with a statistical significance greater than seven standard deviations. Despite having several potential counterparts in their proximity, including pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants and star-forming regions, the PeVatrons responsible for the ultrahigh-energy γ-rays have not yet been firmly localized and identified (except for the Crab Nebula), leaving open the origin of these extreme accelerators.

Evidence for Chiral Wobbler in Nuclei.

Three ΔI=1 bands with the πg_{9/2}⊗νg_{9/2} configuration have been identified in _{35}^{74}Br_{39}. Angular distribution, linear polarization, and lifetime measurements were performed to determine the multipolarity, type, mixing ratio, and absolute transition probability of the transitions. By comparing these experimental observations with the corresponding fingerprints and the quantum particle rotor model calculations, the second and third lowest bands are, respectively, suggested as the chiral partner and one-phonon wobbling excitation built on the yrast band. The evidence indicates the first chiral wobbler in nuclei.

Measurements of All-Particle Energy Spectrum and Mean Logarithmic Mass of Cosmic Rays from 0.3 to 30 PeV with LHAASO-KM2A.

We present the measurements of all-particle energy spectrum and mean logarithmic mass of cosmic rays in the energy range of 0.3-30 PeV using data collected from LHAASO-KM2A between September 2021 and December 2022, which is based on a nearly composition-independent energy reconstruction method, achieving unprecedented accuracy. Our analysis reveals the position of the knee at 3.67±0.05±0.15 PeV. Below the knee, the spectral index is found to be -2.7413±0.0004±0.0050, while above the knee, it is -3.128±0.005±0.027, with the sharpness of the transition measured with a statistical error of 2%. The mean logarithmic mass of cosmic rays is almost heavier than helium in the whole measured energy range. It decreases from 1.7 at 0.3 PeV to 1.3 at 3 PeV, representing a 24% decline following a power law with an index of -0.1200±0.0003±0.0341. This is equivalent to an increase in abundance of light components. Above the knee, the mean logarithmic mass exhibits a power law trend towards heavier components, which is reversal to the behavior observed in the all-particle energy spectrum. Additionally, the knee position and the change in power-law index are approximately the same. These findings suggest that the knee observed in the all-particle spectrum corresponds to the knee of the light component, rather than the medium-heavy components.

Constraints on Ultraheavy Dark Matter Properties from Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies with LHAASO Observations.

In this Letter we try to search for signals generated by ultraheavy dark matter at the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) data. We look for possible γ rays by dark matter annihilation or decay from 16 dwarf spheroidal galaxies in the field of view of the LHAASO. Dwarf spheroidal galaxies are among the most promising targets for indirect detection of dark matter that have low fluxes of astrophysical γ-ray background while having large amount of dark matter. By analyzing more than 700 days of observational data at LHAASO, no significant dark matter signal from 1 TeV to 1 EeV is detected. Accordingly we derive the most stringent constraints on the ultraheavy dark matter annihilation cross section up to EeV. The constraints on the lifetime of dark matter in decay mode are also derived.

Stringent Tests of Lorentz Invariance Violation from LHAASO Observations of GRB 221009A.

On 9 October 2022, the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) reported the observation of the very early TeV afterglow of the brightest-of-all-time gamma-ray burst 221009A, recording the highest photon statistics in the TeV band ever obtained from a gamma-ray burst. We use this unique observation to place stringent constraints on the energy dependence of the speed of light in vacuum, a manifestation of Lorentz invariance violation (LIV) predicted by some quantum gravity (QG) theories. Our results show that the 95% confidence level lower limits on the QG energy scales are E_{QG,1}>10 times the Planck energy E_{Pl} for the linear LIV effect, and E_{QG,2}>6×10^{-8}E_{Pl} for the quadratic LIV effect. Our limits on the quadratic LIV case improve previous best bounds by factors of 5-7.

Standardized IETA criteria enhance accuracy of junior and intermediate ultrasound radiologists in diagnosing malignant endometrial and intrauterine lesions.

OBJECTIVES: To transform the standardized descriptions of the ultrasound characteristics of endometrial and intrauterine lesions devised by the International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) group into a practical scoring method and to investigate whether application of this method enhances the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound radiologists with different levels of experience in detecting malignancy compared with subjective assessment. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 855 patients with endometrial and/or intrauterine lesions, who were divided into a training (n = 600) and a validation (n = 255) set. Ultrasound radiologists with varying levels of experience (expert, intermediate and junior) evaluated all lesions by subjective assessment and according to IETA rules. Using IETA rules, the experts identified signs of malignancy in the training set, assigned scores for each indicator and validated the scoring method in the validation set. The intermediate-level and junior ultrasound radiologists reassessed the malignancy of the lesions using the IETA scoring method and compared their classifications with those made previously by subjective assessment. Postsurgical pathological evaluation was used as the reference standard. RESULTS: Using subjective assessment, the experts demonstrated the highest level of diagnostic accuracy, with a sensitivity of 85.0%, specificity of 94.3% and an area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.897. Applying the IETA scoring method (comprising eight ultrasound characteristics that contributed to the total score) with a threshold of > 25 points for the diagnosis of malignancy achieved a sensitivity of 84.7%, specificity of 94.7% and AUC of 0.9533 in the training set, with similar performance in the validation set, when performed by experts. Using the IETA scoring method, both junior and intermediate ultrasound radiologists showed improvement in sensitivity (from 55.5% to 74.8% and from 70.2% to 77.1%, respectively), specificity (from 88.4% to 91.5% and from 87.4% to 92.2%, respectively) and AUC (from 0.704 to 0.827 and from 0.793 to 0.841, respectively) for diagnosing malignant lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The IETA scoring method exhibits high diagnostic efficacy for malignant endometrial and intrauterine lesions. This method compensates for the lack of experience among junior and intermediate-level ultrasound radiologists, enhancing their diagnostic skill to a level nearing that of experienced senior ultrasound radiologists. Further research is essential to validate the practicality of implementing this method and to confirm its clinical value. © 2024 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Machine-learning-based performance comparison of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) CT radiomics features for intracerebral haemorrhage expansion.

AIM: To investigate the value of non-contrast CT (NCCT)-based two-dimensional (2D) radiomics features in predicting haematoma expansion (HE) after spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and compare its predictive ability with the three-dimensional (3D) signature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and seven ICH patients who received baseline NCCT within 6 h of ictus from two stroke centres were analysed retrospectively. 2D and 3D radiomics features were extracted in the manner of one-to-one correspondence. The 2D and 3D models were generated by four different machine-learning algorithms (regularised L1 logistic regression, decision tree, support vector machine and AdaBoost), and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to compare their predictive performance. A robustness analysis was performed according to baseline haematoma volume. RESULTS: Each feature type of 2D and 3D modalities used for subsequent analyses had excellent consistency (mean ICC >0.9). Among the different machine-learning algorithms, pairwise comparison showed no significant difference in both the training (mean area under the ROC curve [AUC] 0.858 versus 0.802, all p>0.05) and validation datasets (mean AUC 0.725 versus 0.678, all p>0.05), and the 10-fold cross-validation evaluation yielded similar results. The AUCs of the 2D and 3D models were comparable either in the binary or tertile volume analysis (all p>0.5). CONCLUSION: NCCT-derived 2D radiomics features exhibited acceptable and similar performance to the 3D features in predicting HE, and this comparability seemed unaffected by initial haematoma volume. The 2D signature may be preferred in future HE-related radiomic works given its compatibility with emergency condition of ICH.

Short-term effects of air pollutants and meteorological factors on outpatients with allergic airway disease in Ningbo, China, 2015-2021.

OBJECTIVES: The allergic airway disease, such as allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, is a general term of a range of inflammatory disorders affecting the upper and lower airways and lung parenchyma. This study aimed to investigate the short-term effects of air pollutants and meteorological factors on AAD-related daily outpatient visits. STUDY DESIGN: An ecological study. METHODS: Data on outpatient visits due to AAD (n = 4,554,404) were collected from the platform of the Ningbo Health Information from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2021. A Quasi-Poisson generalized additive regression model was established to analyze the lag effects of air pollution on daily outpatient visits for AAD. Restricted cubic spline functions were used to explore the potential non-linear relationships between air pollutants and meteorological and daily outpatient visits for AAD. RESULTS: PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, or CO were associated with daily outpatient visits for AAD, and there was a significant increasing trend in the cumulative lag effects. SO2 had the largest effect at Lag07, with a 25.3% (95% CI: 21.6%-29.0%) increase in AAD for every 10 µg/m3 increase in exposure concentration. Subgroup analysis showed that the 0-18 years old age group had the strongest effects, especially for AR, and all effects were stronger in the cold season. CONCLUSIONS: Given that patients aged 0-18 are more susceptible to environmental changes, protective measures specifically for children should be taken during dry and cold weather conditions with poor air quality.

[Detection of colorectal advanced neoplasms among the cancer screening population in urban areas of Henan Province and analysis on its influencing factors].

Objective: To analyze the detection of colorectal advanced neoplasms in the population who underwent colonoscopy screening in Henan Province as part of the Urban China Cancer Screening Program and its influencing factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed. Based on the Cancer Screening Program conducted in Henan Province, the study enrolled 7 454 urban residents who manifested no symptoms and were recruited from eight cities in the province, including Zhengzhou, Zhumadian, Anyang, Luoyang, Nanyang, Jiaozuo, Xinxiang, and Puyang from October 2013 to October 2019, and participated in colonoscopy screening. The χ2 test was used to compare the detection rates of colorectal advanced neoplasms among participants with different characteristics, and a multivariate logistic stepwise regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting the detection rates. Results: A total of 7 454 subjects underwent colonoscopy screening, and 112 cases of colorectal advanced neoplasms were detected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that older age, smoking, higher meat intake, history of diabetes, and family history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative were risk factors for colorectal advanced neoplasms. The detection rate was significantly higher in people aged 60-74 years compared with those aged 40-49 years, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.04 (95% CI: 1.23-3.38).The rates were higher in people who smoked than those who did not smoke, with an OR of 2.21 (95% CI: 1.48-3.31), and in people who consumed more meat than those who consumed less, with an OR of 1.53 (95% CI: 1.04-2.26). Those with diabetes had a higher detection rate compared with those without, with an OR of 1.69 (95% CI: 1.07-2.69), and those with a first-degree family history of colorectal cancer had a higher detection rate than those without, with an OR of 1.64 (95% CI: 1.09-2.46). Conclusion: The detection rate of colorectal advanced neoplasms through colonoscopy screening in Henan Province covered by the Urban China Cancer Screening Program is 1.50%. Older age, smoking, higher meat intake, history of diabetes, and family history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative are identified as risk factors for colorectal advanced neoplasms.

[Super minimally invasive surgery changing the treatment paradigm for rectal cancer].

The treatment mode for patients with low rectal cancer (LRC) is still mainly surgical treatment. With the advancement of medical technology, the current surgical mode is more inclined towards super minimally invasive surgery (SMIS) that preserves organs and functions. SMIS belongs to organ preservation surgery, including non-full thickness and full-thickness resection under digestive endoscopy, laparoscopic or robotic full-thickness resection, and transanal minimally invasive surgery, which can cover all stages of TNM staging. The paper elaborates on the importance of preoperative accurate diagnosis and risk stratification in selecting appropriate SMIS methods, the new progress of imaging technology in accurately predicting lymph node metastasis, providing preoperative TNM staging and risk stratification, and guiding SMIS treatment. Finally, the paper introduces the SMIS surgical options for the treatment of LRC that have been developed and are currently in the clinical research stage, with the aim of maximizing the quality of life for LRC patients.

[The development, implementation principles and application of the endoscopic super minimally invasive surgery].

Endoscopic therapy has gone through three stages of development: intraluminal treatment, endoscopic tunneling technology, and endoscopic super minimally invasive surgery (ESMIS). Compared to the drawbacks of traditional surgical methods"organ resection and anatomical reconstruction", super minimally invasive surgery (SMIS) emphasizes the surgical concept of"curing diseases while preserving organs and functions". SMIS conducts treatment through four channels: natural cavity channel, tunnel channel, puncture channel, and multi cavity channel. It offers dozens of surgical methods for diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal diseases. At present, relatively sound implementation principles for ESMIS treatment have been established to ensure the safety and effectiveness of surgery, and to continuously expand other diagnostic and therapeutic fields.

[Clinical characteristics of appendix orifice polyps and the effect endoscopic super minimally invasive treatment].

To analyze the clinical characteristics of appendiceal orifice polyps and the effect of endoscopic super minimally invasive treatment. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the general situation (age and sex), the classification of appendiceal orifice polyps, the treatment method under endoscope, postoperative pathology and postoperative complications in patients who underwent resection of appendiceal orifice polyps at the Peking University First Hospital and the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023. A total of 47 patients were included, consisting of 28 males and 19 females, with 35-86 (61±12) years. Appendiceal orifice polyps were classified into four types: type 0 (14 cases), type 1 (15 cases), type 2 (12 cases), and type 3 (6 cases). Among the endoscopic morphologies, 22 cases were granular laterally spreading tumors. Endoscopic mucosal dissection was performed in 37 cases. Postoperative appendiceal stent placement was performed in 1 case. The pathological types of polyps included adenoma in 15 cases, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in 10 cases, intramucosal carcinoma in 4 cases, submucosal carcinoma in 5 cases, inflammatory polyps in 1 cases, and sessile serrated lesion in 12 cases. Curative resection was performed in 44 cases. There were no postoperative complications such as bleeding, perforation, or acute appendicitis. The pathology of appendiceal polyps is mostly precancerous lesions, and the treatment scheme of endoscopic super minimally invasive resection is both safe and effective.

[Application of "modified double pocket suture" pancreatoenterostomy in laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the value of the "improved double purse-string suture method" for pancreatojejunostomy in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodene-ctomy. Methods: The clinical data of 273 patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduode-nectomy in the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery of the First Hospital of Jilin University from January 2021 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the method of pancreaticoenteric anastomosis, the patients were divided into two groups: the "improved double purse-string suture method" group and the "Hong's one-stitch method" group. Results: The "improved double purse-string suture method" for pancreaticoenteric anastomosis was performed in a total of 189 patients, including 107 males and 82 females, with a mean age of (59.6±10.2) years. The "Hong's one-stitch method" group" was performed in a group of 84 patients, including 52 males and 32 females, with a mean age of (60.8±9.3) years.The results showed that the "improved double purse-string suture method" group had a lower incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (6.88% vs 8.33% for grade B fistula, and 1.58% vs 2.38% for grade C fistula) and a shorter anastomosis time [(25.25±4.73) min vs (25.76±6.71) min] than the "Hong's one-stitch method" group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative biliary fistula, abdominal bleeding, delayed gastric emptying, and other complications (P>0.05). Conclusion: The "improved double purse-string suture method" for pancreatojejunostomy is safe and feasible in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.

[Effect of Da Vinci robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery for rectal neoplasms].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of Da Vinci robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery (R-TAMIS) for rectal neoplasms. Methods: The patients of rectal neoplasms who underwent R-TAMIS and were regularly followed up at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2021 to January 2024 were retropectively selected. Follow-up visits were conducted at 1, 2, and 4 weeks postoperatively, and then every 3 months until January 20, 2024. The perioperative situation, postoperative histopathological results, and follow-up status of the patients were observed. Results: A total of 17 patients were included, including 10 males and 7 females, aged 35-80 (59±13) years. Eleven patients underwent surgery using the da Vinci® Si robot, while 6 patients underwent surgery using the da Vinci® Xi robot. The height of the resected tumor from the anal verge [M (Q1, Q3)] was 3.5 (3.0, 3.8) cm. The total operative time was 55.0 (50.0, 55.0) minutes, the platform installation time was 32.5 (30.0, 35.0) minutes. The actual surgical operation time was 22.5 (20.0, 27.5) minutes. Intraoperative blood loss was 9.2 (5.0, 10.0) ml. The postoperative hospital stay was 3.2 (3.0, 3.8) days. The total treatment cost was (29 447±4 765) yuan. Two patients who achieved clinical complete remission after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy experienced incision dehiscence one week postoperatively, which was resolved after four weeks of rectal irrigation therapy. All surgical specimens were intact, and all resection margins were negative. A total of 44(31,73) weeks were followed up, without local recurrence or distant metastasis. Conclusion: Da Vinci robotic transanal minimally invasive local resection may be a safe and feasible treatment option for rectal neoplasms.

[Clinical characteristics and associated factors of mild cognitive impairment in patients with common cardiovascular diseases].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with common cardiovascular diseases (CVD, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure) combined with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and explore the potential risk factors of MCI in patients with CVD. Methods: A total of 2 294 patients with common cardiovascular diseases who met the criteria at Cardiology Medical Center in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, from June 1, 2021, to January 5, 2022, were retrospectively included. The patients were divided into the normal cognitive function group (1 107 cases) and the MCI group (1 187 cases). Demographic information and CVD status were collected. The information of cognitive function were collected using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scales. The difference between normal cognitive function and MCI were compared and analyzed. The logistic regression analysis was used to explored risk factors of MCI in CVD patients. Results: A total of 2 294 patients aged (60.6±10.4) years were included, among whom there were 29.99% (688 cases) females. Compared with patients in the normal cognitive function group, patients in the MCI group were older [ (57.9±11.4) vs (63.1±8.9) years old, P<0.001], with a higher proportion of women [26.47% (293 cases) vs 33.28% (395 cases), P<0.001]; there was a higher proportion of patients suffering from hypertension in the MCI group [59.62% (660 cases) vs 64.62% (767 cases), P=0.014ï¼½, and more components of CVD [(1.68±0.62) vs (1.74±0.65) components, P=0.017]. The risk factors of MCI in patients with common CVD were increased age, increased depression score, combined with hypertension, and ≥3 common components of CVD, with OR (95%CI) of 1.043 (1.032-1.054), 1.021 (1.004-1.037), 1.151 (1.142-3.439), and 1.137 (1.023-1.797), respectively (all P values <0.05). Increasing education level was observed to be associated with reduced risk of MCI with OR (95%CI) of 0.319 (0.271-0.378) (P<0.05). Conclusions: The incidence of MCI was high in CVD patients. The risk factors of MCI in CVD patients included hypertension and≥3 common components of CVD.

[Risk factors for the occurrence of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease in the aged and the clinical characteristics of patients complicated with pneumonia].

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for the occurrence of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease in the aged, and to analyze the characteristics of patients with pneumonia. Methods: Patients who underwent 24-hour laryngopharyngeal pH monitoring from June 2020 to July 2022 and the positive patients of those who underwent 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring from March 2017 to July 2022 at the Second Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital were enrolled retrospectively. Positive results of 24-hour laryngopharyngeal reflux monitoring were in the laryngopharyngeal reflux group, and the negative results were in the non-laryngopharyngeal reflux group. Patients with pneumonia and simple gastroesophageal reflux disease were in the esophageal reflux pneumonia group, and patients with pneumonia and simple laryngopharyngeal reflux disease were in the laryngopharyngeal reflux pneumonia group. Patients' basic data, co-morbidities, drug use and relevant examination and test results were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease in the aged and its relationship with pneumonia. Results: A total of 80 patients with 24-hour laryngopharyngeal pH monitoring were enrolled finally, including 34 cases, all male, aged (73±12) years, in the laryngopharyngeal reflux group, and 46 cases [44 males, 2 females, aged (78±11) years] in the non-laryngopharyngeal reflux group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease in the aged included age ≤70 years (OR=13.07, 95%CI: 2.53-67.68), body mass index (BMI) (OR=1.37, each additional 1 kg/m2, 95%CI: 1.03-1.83), use of antipsychotic drugs (OR=8.00, 95%CI: 1.40-45.73) and calcium channel blockers (OR=5.27, 95%CI: 1.13-24.53) (all P<0.05). The protective factors of the laryngopharyngeal reflux disease in the aged included antacids (OR=0.19, 95%CI: 0.04-0.90, P=0.035). The incidence of pneumonia was higher in the laryngopharyngeal reflux group compared with the non-laryngopharyngeal reflux group [44.1% (15/34) vs 21.7% (10/46), P=0.033]. The esophageal reflux pneumonia group included 32 cases [31 males and 1 females, aged (84±12) years]. The laryngopharyngeal reflux pneumonia group included 15 cases [ 15 males, aged (79±11) years]. Compared to the patients in the laryngopharyngeal reflux pneumonia group, the patients in the esophageal reflux pneumonia group had a longer course of antibiotics [(27.7±27.0) vs (14.6±13.9) days, P=0.034], a higher frequency of seizure frequency [(4.3±3.0) vs (1.8±1.5) times/year, P<0.001] and a higher maximal body temperature [(38.2±0.9) vs (37.6±1.1) ℃, P=0.037]. Conclusions: The risk factors of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease in the aged included age ≤70 years, higher BMI, use of antipsychotic drugs and calcium channel blockers. The incidence of pneumonia in laryngopharyngeal reflux disease is higher, but the condition of pneumonia is milder.

[Research progress of vaccination status, efficacy and safety in children with tumor].

Malignant tumors in children are one of the most important diseases that threaten the health and quality of life of children and are the second most common cause of death in children.With the continuous improvement and progress of treatment technology, the long-term survival rate of children with tumor has been significantly improved, but both the disease itself and the treatment can impair the immune function of children, which makes them vulnerable to various infectious diseases and secondary serious complications, and even become a source of infection, endangering the health of others. Vaccination is the most cost-effective measure to prevent infectious diseases. For children with normal immune functions, the benefits of vaccination usually outweigh the disadvantages. However, there is a lack of detailed data on the vaccination situation, efficacy and safety of vaccine use for such immunocompromised tumor survivors, and there are no authoritative and uniform vaccination recommendations. This article reviewed and summarized the literature and consensus of some domestic and foreign scholars on current status of post-treatment vaccination status, efficacy and safety of vaccination for children with tumors after treatment, with the aim of providing a reference for the practice in this field in China.

[Application of 21-gene recurrence risk score in patients with breast cancer].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between 21-gene recurrence risk score (21-Gene RS) and the prognosis and clinicopathological features of hormone receptor (HR) positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer patients who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. Methods: A total of 469 patients with HR positive and HER2-negative early breast cancer who received surgical treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2014 to October 2017 were selected. Their clinicopathological data were retrospectively analyzed. Tumor tissue samples were collected from patients, and the expression of 21-gene was detected by reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The 21-Gene RS was calculated according to the Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment (TAILORx) RS grouping and National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-20 (NSABP B-20) RS grouping principles. Patients were divided into low (21-Gene RS<11 or 21-Gene RS<18), intermediate (11≤21-Gene RS<26 or 18≤21-Gene RS<31) and high (21-Gene RS≥26 or 21-Gene RS≥31) risk groups, and the clinicopathological features and prognostic differences of patients in different risk groups were compared. Statistical data were compared by chi-square test. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and the differences between groups were compared using Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was conducted by COX regression analysis. Results: Based on TAILORx RS grouping, the proportions of low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk groups among the 469 patients were 18.8% (88/469), 48.2% (226/469) and 33.0% (155/469), respectively. Based on NSABP B-20 RS grouping, the proportion of low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk groups were 43.1% (202/469), 37.5% (176/469) and 19.4% (91/469), respectively. The association of 21-Gene RS with histological grading, luminal typing, Ki-67 expression, and chemotherapy and treatment modalities were statistically significant (P<0.05) regardless of TAILORx RS grouping or NSABP B-20 RS grouping. Kaplan-Meier survival curve suggested poor prognosis in high-risk group (P<0.05, Log-rank test). Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that surgical method and 21-Gene RS were risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients. Conclusions: 21-Gene RS is significantly associated with the prognosis of patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, early-stage breast cancer not receiving neoadjuvant therapy, as well as with their clinicopathological characteristics such as patients' histologic grade, luminal typing, Ki-67 expression, and whether or not they are treated with chemotherapy or other treatment modalities.The 21-Gene RS threshold of 11 and 26 or 18 and 31 can be used to grade the prognosis in Chinese patients with early-stage breast cancer. More researches are needed to guide the selection of postoperative adjuvant therapy for patients with HR-positive and HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer.

[Skin disease caused by Mycobacterium marinum:a case report].

Mycobacterium marinum infection often affects the extremities, causing single or multiple skin lesions. With the improvement of molecular detection technology and the clinical application of NGS pathogen detection, the diagnosis rate of Mycobacterium marinum skin disease is gradually increasing. This article reported the case of a 54-year-old man who was stung by a marine fish and gradually developed swelling and nodules on his right hand and right upper limb. He was diagnosed with Mycobacterium marinum infection by detection of the tuberculosis resistance gene dissolution curve of the pus and the identification of the bacteria. Oral rifampicin combined with clarithromycin and minocycline was given for anti-infection treatment. During follow-up, the abscesses and nodules gradually shrank and eventually disappeared. By presenting the diagnosis and treatment of this case, the understanding of this disease among clinicians can be improved to avoid misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

[Comparison of ultrathin bronchoscopy with conventional bronchoscopy for the diagnostic value of peripheral pulmonary lesions].

Objective: To assess and compare the diagnostic efficacy of next-generation ultrathin bronchoscopy (UTB) and conventional bronchoscopy (CB), both combined with radial endobronchial ultrasound (r-EBUS), in the evaluation of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL). Methods: A cohort of 39 patients with PPL who underwent multimodal bronchoscopy at Dushu Lake Hospital, Soochow University, from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2023 was consecutively enrolled. A single bronchoscopist performed multimodal bronchoscopies using CB (external diameter 4.9 mm or 5.9 mm, working channel diameter 2 or 3 mm, CB group) for transbronchial biopsy under r-EBUS guidance (rEBUS-TBLB), followed by UTB (external diameter 3 mm, working channel diameter 1.7 mm, UTB group) for transbronchial biopsy under r-EBUS guidance. Pathological findings and a 6-month clinical follow-up were used as the gold standard to compare the diagnostic yield of biopsy specimens, ultrasound characteristics, and localization rates of the two bronchoscope types. The aim was to evaluate the clinical application value of UTB combined with r-EBUS. Binary variables were analysed using the McNemar test for paired data. Continuous variables or ranked data were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired data. Results: The diagnostic yields for UTB and CB groups were 66.67% (26/39) and 30.77% (12/39), respectively, with the UTB group significantly surpassing the CB group (χ2=10.56, P=0.001, 1-ß=0.968). r-EBUS with CB exhibited no visible lesion in 13 cases, adjacent to the lesion in 19 cases, and within the lesion in 7 cases.Substitution of UTB resulted in r-EBUS images changing from no visible lesion to adjacent to the lesion in 7 cases, from no visible lesion to within the lesion in 3 cases, and from adjacent to the lesion to within the lesion in 12 cases. The positioning of the r-EBUS probe in relation to the lesions improved significantly with UTB usage (Z=-4.46, P<0.001). Localization rates (number of patients with "within" or "adjacent to" the image/total number of patients) for UTB and CB were 92.30% (36/39) and 66.67% (26/39), respectively (χ2=8.10, P=0.002). UTB improved r-EBUS probe localization rates. The diagnostic yields of UTB were higher than CB for solid lesions, lesions>30 mm in diameter, non-upper lobar location, benign or malignant lesions and lesions with or without a bronchus sign. Conclusion: The UTB group demonstrated a significantly higher diagnostic yield than the CB group, providing superior r-EBUS probe images, and a significant diagnostic advantage for PPL.