Effects of ganciclovir combined with recombinant human interferon-α on clinical efficacy and immune function in children with infectious mononucleosis.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of ganciclovir combined with recombinant human interferon on clinical efficacy and immune function of children with infectious mononucleosis(IM). Methods: This was a retrospective study. Children (n=120) with IM hospitalized in Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University Baoding Hospital from January 2020 to January 2022 were selected and randomly divided into study group and control group((n=60). Patients in the control group were treated with ganciclovir by intravenous infusion, and patients in the study group were given ganciclovir+recombinant human interferon-α1b. The time for eliminating clinical symptoms, the levels of inflammatory cytokines, immune function condition and T-lymphocyte subsets between the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results: After treatment, the time for body temperature returned to normal, time for recovery from cervical lymphadenopathy, time for recovery from hepatosplenomegaly and time for disappearance of angina and oral mucosal congestion in the study group were significantly shorter than those in the control group(p= 0.00); after treatment, the levels of TNF-a and IL-6 in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group; the indexes of CD3+ and CD8+ in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group; after treatment, the levels of CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Conclusion: Ranciclovir combined with recombinant human interferon-α1b, rapid improvements of clinical symptoms, significantly decreased inflammatory cytokines, improved T-lymphocyte function and no significant increase in adverse drug reactions were found in children with IM.

Cotton Ball Aspiration Leading to Pulmonary Complications in a Child.

BACKGROUND Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a common and serious problem in childhood that requires early recognition and treatment. Common complications include asphyxia, hemorrhage, infection, and pneumothorax. In severe cases of foreign body obstruction, death can result from asphyxia. We report an interesting case in which a forgotten cotton ball was inhaled into the lungs. CASE REPORT A 5-year-old boy presented to the local hospital with coughing for 6 days and fever for 4 days, without any information of foreign body aspiration upon admission. Laboratory findings indicated an elevated white blood cell; therefore, cefprozil was given as anti-infective treatment. However, the child's condition did not improve. A computed tomography scan showed left pulmonary atelectasis. Considering that the child's condition was serious, he was referred to our hospital for diagnosis and treatment. After referral, auscultation revealed decreased breath sounds over the left lung. After multidisciplinary discussion, combined with the results of auxiliary examination, the possibility of a foreign body was considered. He underwent rigid bronchoscopy, which confirmed a yellow-white foreign body in the left main bronchus that was later verified as a cotton ball. The operation was very successful. Eventually, his condition improved and he was discharged, without additional complications. CONCLUSIONS For children with unclear history of foreign body aspiration, bronchoscopy is recommended if there is recurrent pulmonary infection, low auscultation breath sounds, or abnormal imaging. The choice of surgical method depends on the location and type of foreign body and the experience of the surgeon, which is also very important.

Clinical features and management strategies concerning auditory canal duplication anomalies in children with congenital first branchial cleft anomalies.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to summarise the clinical features and management strategies concerning auditory canal duplication anomalies in children with congenital first branchial cleft anomalies (CFBCAs), and to provide guidance for precise treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 84 children with CFBCAs who had complete data, diagnosed between December 2018 and February 2024. RESULTS: All the lesions identified were located around the external auditory canal or near the mandibular angle, manifested as pinhead-sized perforations in 10 cases, painless masses in 18 cases, recurrent swelling and pain with purulent discharge in 52 cases, and otorrhea in 4 cases. Otoscopy examinations revealed external auditory canal swelling in seven children, fistulas within the auditory canal in four children, and a myringa web in three children. Fifty-six children had a preoperative history of infection. Using Work's classification system, Work I and II in 70 (87.5%) and 14 (12.5%) children, respectively. Intraoperatively, 80 (95.2%) children had auditory canal duplication anomalies at the base of the lesion, closely associated with the cartilage of the inferior wall of external auditory canal(EAC), We then classified auditory canal duplication anomalies into three types: Type A (duplication anomalies of epithelial tissue structure between the skin of the EAC and the cartilage of the inferior wall, n = 16 children), Type B (duplication anomalies of the epithelial and/or skin tissue structure, sharing a wall with the cartilage of the inferior wall, n = 40), and Type C (duplication anomalies of the skin and cartilage tissue structure, connected to the cartilage of the inferior wall of EAC, n = 24). Sixty-eight children had lesions superficial to the facial nerve, 12 had lesions deep to the facial nerve, and four had lesions between branches. There were two cases of transient postoperative facial paralysis, three cases of CFBCA recurrence, and two cases of transient auditory canal stenosis. CONCLUSION: Auditory canal duplication anomalies are an important feature of first branchial cleft anomalies in children. Precise staging and accurate identification of the base of the lesion facilitate complete removal, thereby increasing the cure rate.

An antibacterial film using κ-carrageenan loaded with benzyl isothiocyanate nanoemulsion: Characterization and application in beef preservation.

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a naturally active bacteriostatic substance and κ-carrageenan (KC) is a good film-forming substrate. In the present study, a nanoemulsion incorporating BITC was fabricated with a particle size of 224.1 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 69.2 %. Subsequently, the acquired BITC nanoemulsion (BITC-NE) was incorporated into the KC-based film, and the light transmittance of the prepared composite films was lower than that of the pure KC film. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that BITC-NE was compatible with the KC matrix. BITC-NE incorporation enhanced the tensile strength of the KC-based films by 33.7 %, decreased the elongation at break by 33.8 %, decreased the water vapor permeability by 60.1 %, increased the maximum thermal degradation temperature by 48.8 %, and decreased the oxygen permeability by 42 % (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the composite films showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The developed KC-based composite films were applied to wrap raw beef, which significantly delayed the increase in total viable count, total volatile base nitrogen content, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and prolonged the shelf-life of the raw beef by up to 10 days. These results indicated that the composite films prepared by incorporating BITC nanoemulsions into KC matrices have great antimicrobial application potential.

Methylation regulation for FUNDC1 stability in childhood leukemia was up-regulated and facilitates metastasis and reduces ferroptosis of leukemia through mitochondrial damage by FBXL2.

Leukemia, the most common malignant tumor in childhood, can be categorized into acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. However, the role of FUNDC1 in childhood leukemia (CL) remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the effects of FUNDC1 on patients with CL and its underlying mechanism both in vivo and in vitro. The mRNA expression levels of FUNDC1 were found to be up-regulated in serum samples from CL patients as well as in leukemia cell lines. Furthermore, it was observed that the mRNA expression of FUNDC1 was lower in stage I-II CL patients compared to stage III-IV patients. The up-regulation of FUNDC1 was found to promote leukemia metastasis. Additionally, it was discovered that FUNDC1 up-regulation reduces ferroptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial damage. In a leukemia model, FUNDC1 up-regulation induces the expression of FBXL2. Moreover, FUNDC1 up-regulation reduces FBXL2 ubiquitination, thus maintaining FBXL2 protein expression in leukemia. By inducing FBXL2, FUNDC1 reduces ferroptosis in leukemia through the inhibition of mitochondrial damage. The stability of FUNDC1 is controlled by METTL3 methylation. Overall, this study sheds light on the role of FUNDC1 in CL and provides insights into its underlying mechanisms.

Clinical significance of T helper-1/T helper-2 cytokines in peripheral blood of children with otitis media with effusion and allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a prevalent and costly disease, especially in children. This article analyzed the expression patterns and clinical significance of T helper-1 (Th1)/Th2 cytokines in the peripheral blood of children with OME and allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: Subjects were assigned to the OME + AR group and the Control group (children with OME), with their clinical baseline data documented. The correlations between Th1/Th2 cytokines and between the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) and Th1/Th2 cytokines were analyzed. The risk factors and the predictive value of Th1/Th2 cytokines for OME + AR were analyzed using logistics multivariate regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in tympanic pressure/speech frequency/air conduction valve/TNSS score/immunoglobulin E (IgE) level between both groups. The OME + AR children exhibited evidently elevated interleukin-2 (IL-2)/tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/IL-4/IL-10/IL-6 levels and no significant difference in interferon-γ (IFN-γ) level. Th1/Th2 cytokines were remarkably positively-correlated with the TNSS score. IL-2/TNF-α/IL-4/IL-6 were risk factors for OME with AR. The area under the curves (AUCs) of IL-6/IL-2/IL-4/TNF-α levels in predicting the occurrence of OME + AR were 0.805/0.806/0.775/0.781, with sensitivities of 75.76 %/89.39 %/72.21 %/72.73 % and specificities of 74.29 %/61.34 %/72.86 %/70.00 %, and the cut-off values were 239.600/20.300/29.880/34.800 (pg/mL). The AUC of their combination in predicting OME + AR was 0.955 (93.94 % sensitivity, 85.71 % specificity). CONCLUSION: Th1/Th2 cytokine levels were imbalanced and obviously positively-correlated with the TNSS score in OME + AR children. IL-2, TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-6 levels had auxiliary predictive value in the occurrence of OME + AR.

Invasive pneumococcal diseases in Chinese children: a multicentre hospital-based active surveillance from 2019 to 2021.

This study aimed to provide data for the clinical features of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and the molecular characteristics of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from paediatric patients in China. We conducted a multi-centre prospective study for IPD in 19 hospitals across China from January 2019 to December 2021. Data of demographic characteristics, risk factors for IPD, death, and disability was collected and analysed. Serotypes, antibiotic susceptibility, and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) of pneumococcal isolates were also detected. A total of 478 IPD cases and 355 pneumococcal isolates were enrolled. Among the patients, 260 were male, and the median age was 35 months (interquartile range, 12-46 months). Septicaemia (37.7%), meningitis (32.4%), and pneumonia (27.8%) were common disease types, and 46 (9.6%) patients died from IPD. Thirty-four serotypes were detected, 19F (24.2%), 14 (17.7%), 23F (14.9%), 6B (10.4%) and 19A (9.6%) were common serotypes. Pneumococcal isolates were highly resistant to macrolides (98.3%), tetracycline (94.1%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (70.7%). Non-sensitive rates of penicillin were 6.2% and 83.3% in non-meningitis and meningitis isolates. 19F-ST271, 19A-ST320 and 14-ST876 showed high resistance to antibiotics. This multi-centre study reports the clinical features of IPD and demonstrates serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance of pneumococcal isolates in Chinese children. There exists the potential to reduce IPD by improved uptake of pneumococcal vaccination, and continued surveillance is warranted.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Purine Derivatives as Herbicide Safeners.

Mesosulfuron-methyl, an inhibitor of acetolactate synthase (ALS), has been extensively used in wheats. However, it can damage wheat (Triticum aestivum) and even lead to crop death. Herbicide safeners selectively shield crops from such damage without compromising weed control. To mitigate the phytotoxicity of mesosulfuron-methyl in crops, several purine derivatives were developed based on active substructure splicing. The synthesized title compounds underwent thorough characterization using infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), and high-resolution mass spectrometry. We evaluated chlorophyll and glutathione contents as well as various enzyme activities to evaluate the safer activity of these compounds. Compounds III-3 and III-7 exhibited superior activity compared with the safener mefenpyr-diethyl. Molecular structure analysis, along with predictions of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity, indicated that compound III-7 shared pharmacokinetic traits with the commercial safener mefenpyr-diethyl. Molecular docking simulations revealed that compound III-7 competitively bound to the ALS active site with mesosulfuron-methyl, elucidating the protective mechanism of the safeners. Overall, this study highlights purine derivatives as potential candidates for novel safener development.

[Chemical Speciation, Influencing Factors, and Regression Model of Heavy Metals in Farmland of Typical Carbonate Area with High Geological Background, Southwest China].

The speciation of heavy metals in soil is an important factor determining their bioavailability and toxicity, and it is crucial for the scientific assessment of ecological risks posed by heavy metals in soils of typical carbonate areas with high geological background in southwest China. In order to investigate the distribution of speciation of heavy metals in soils of carbonate rock with high geological background, we selected a typical carbonate rock distribution area in Guizhou Province and used the second national soil survey plots as sampling units. A total of 309 topsoil samples were collected from farmland. The improved Tessier seven-step sequential extraction method was used to analyze the seven chemical forms of heavy metals:water-soluble (F1); exchangeable (F2); carbonate-bound (F3); weakly organic-bound (F4); iron-manganese oxide-bound (F5); strongly organic-bound (F6); and residual (F7) forms of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). The study found that the residual forms of heavy metals As, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the soil accounted for more than 50%, the effective components (F1-F3) accounted for less than 5%, and the potential biological effective components (F4-F6) were less than 45%, indicating low reactivity and low ecological risk. The effective and potentially bioavailable components of Cd accounted for 55.49% and 29.37%, respectively, which were much higher than those of other heavy metals. The ecological risk based on the speciation of heavy metals in the soil was much lower than that based on the total content of heavy metals. The stepwise regression equations could effectively establish the relationship between the bioavailable and potentially bioavailable fractions of Cd, Cu, and Pb and their influencing factors. Total heavy metal contents and pH value were important factors influencing the speciation of heavy metals in soils of carbonate rock with high geological background areas. The enrichment of heavy metal elements in the residual fraction was influenced by long-term zinc smelting activities and the weathering of carbonate rocks into soil. Soil organic matter (OM) and oxide content had a relatively small influence on the speciation of heavy metals in the soil.

An optimized short-term steroid therapy for chronic drug-induced liver injury: A prospective randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The use of corticosteroids in chronic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an important issue. Our previous randomized controlled trial showed that patients with chronic DILI benefited from a 48-week steroid stepwise reduction (SSR) regimen. However, it remains unclear whether a shorter course of therapy can achieve similar efficacy. In this study, we aimed to assess whether a 36-week SSR can achieve efficacy similar to that of 48-week SSR. METHODS: A randomized open-label trial was performed. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to the 36- or 48-week (1:1) SSR group. Liver biopsies were performed at baseline and at the end of treatment. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with relapse rate (RR). The secondary outcomes were improvement in liver histology and safety. RESULTS: Of the 90 participants enrolled, 84 (87.5%) completed the trial, and 62 patients (68.9%) were women. Hepatocellular damage was observed in 53.4% of the cohort. The RR was 7.1% in the 36-week SSR group but 4.8% in the 48-week SSR group, as determined by per-protocol set analysis (p = 1.000). Significant histological improvements in histological activity (93.1% vs. 92.9%, p = 1.000) and fibrosis (41.4% vs. 46.4%, p = .701) were observed in both the groups. Biochemical normalization time did not differ between the two groups. No severe adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Both the 36- and 48-week SSR regimens demonstrated similar biochemical response and histological improvements with good safety, supporting 36-week SSR as a preferable therapeutic choice (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03266146).

The impact of depressive and anxious symptoms on non-suicidal self-injury behavior in adolescents: a network analysis.

PURPOSE: Conceptualizing adolescent NSSI and emotional symptoms as a system of causal elements could provide valuable insights into the development of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescent. This study aimed to explore the intricate relationship between NSSI, depressive symptoms, and anxious symptoms in adolescents, identifying key symptoms to establish a theoretical foundation for targeted and effective interventions addressing NSSI behaviors in this population. METHODS: A total of 412 adolescents with NSSI behaviors were selected from outpatients. Generalized anxious disorder scale (GAD-7) and patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) were employed to measure anxious symptoms and depressive symptoms, respectively. The adolescent non-suicidal self-injury assessment questionnaire (ANSSIAQ) was used to evaluate NSSI of adolescent. Using network analysis, the NSSI、depressive symptoms and anxious symptoms network were constructed to identify the most central symptoms and the bridge symptoms within the networks. RESULTS: The findings revealed that the NSSI functional nodes "coping with sadness and disappointment" and "relieving stress or anxious" exhibited the strongest correlation, with a regularized partial correlation coefficient was 0.401. The symptoms "having a desire to harm oneself and unable to stop" and the node "depressive symptoms" had the highest strength centrality in the network, and their strength centrality indices were 1.267 and 1.263, respectively. The bridge nodes were "having a desire to harm oneself and unable to stop" and "expressing one's despair and hopelessness", with expected impact indices of 0.389 and 0.396, respectively. CONCLUSION: In adolescents, the network revealed a closer connection between NSSI and depressive symptoms. "The desire to not stop hurting oneself" is not only broadly connected to other nodes but also could activate other nodes to maintain NSSI behavior. In light of these findings, precise targets for pharmacological treatment, psychotherapy, physical therapy, etc., are identified for adolescents with NSSI. Targeting this specific aspect in interventions may contribute to preventing and reducing NSSI behavior in adolescents.

Contribution of small airway inflammation to the development of COPD.

BACKGROUND: Little attention has been paid to the pathophysiological changes in the natural history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The destructions of the small airways were visualized on thoracic micro-computed tomography scan. We investigated whether small airway inflammation (SAI) was the risk for the development of COPD. METHODS: A total of 1062 patients were enrolled and analyzed in the study. The partitioned airway inflammation was determined by exhaled nitric oxide (NO) of FnNO, FeNO50, FeNO200, and calculated CaNOdual. Both FeNO200 and CaNOdual were compared to detect the promising predictor for peripheral airway/alveolar inflammation in COPD. The correlation between exhaled NO and white cell classification was evaluated to determine the inflammation type during the development of COPD. RESULTS: Exhaled NO levels (FnNO, FeNO50, FeNO200, and CaNOdual) were the highest in the COPD group compared with all other groups. Furthermore, compared with controls, exhaled NO levels (FeNO50, FeNO200, and CaNOdual) were also significantly higher in the emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and smoking groups. FeNO200 was found to be a promising predictor for peripheral airway/alveolar inflammation (area under the curve [AUC] of the receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.841) compared with CaNOdual (AUC ROC = 0.707) in COPD. FeNO200 was the main risk factor (adjusted odds ratio, 2.191; 95% CI, 1.797-2.671; p = 0.002) for the development of COPD. The blood eosinophil and basophil levels were correlated with FeNO50 and FeNO200. CONCLUSION: The complete airway inflammations were shown in COPD, whereas SAI was the main risk factor for the development of COPD, which might relate to eosinophil and basophil levels.

Correlation of iron deficiency indexes with Eradication and Recurrence of Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Children.

Objective: To explore the correlation of iron deficiency (ID) indexes with eradication and recurrence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in children. Methods: This is a clinical comparative study. One hundred and twenty-six children who were first diagnosed as Hp infection in Baoding Children's Hospital (Hp infection group); and the control group included 200 children without Helicobacter Pylori infection (negative stool Hp antigen test and/or 13C-urea breath test) in local region at the same time from January 2020 to January 2022. Enrolled children were subjected to routine blood test, serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (SI) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) detection. Meanwhile, children with Hp infection were given triple therapy for eradication and followed up for one year. Results: The levels of SI, SF and Hb in non-eradication group were lower than those in eradication group (P<0.05); while TIBC level in the former group was higher than that in the latter group (P<0.05). Furthermore, SF level in the recurrence group was lower than that in the non-recurrence group (P<0.05). While there was no significant difference in Hb, SI and TIBC levels between the recurrence group and the non-recurrence group (P>0.05). Conclusion: Low level of SF may be a risk factor for difficulty in eradication and recurrence after eradication in children with Hp infection. Meanwhile, low levels of Hb and SI are influential factors for difficulty in eradication in children with Hp infection.

[Analysis of the diagnosis and treatment of 10 cases of complex respiratory foreign bodies in children].

Objective:To explore the diagnosis and treatment experience of complex respiratory foreign bodies in children. Methods:The clinical data of 1 243 cases of respiratory foreign bodies in children were retrospectively analyzed, among which 10 cases（0.8%） were complicated respiratory foreign bodies. Results:Among the 10 cases of complex respiratory foreign bodies, 2 cases were removed by open thoracotomy, 1 case was removed by tracheotomy, 1 case was removed by lobectomy, 1 case was removed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy because of difficult airway caused by the accompanying congenital pulmonary artery sling, and the pulmonary artery sling correction was synchronized with the fiberoptic bronchoscopic removal, 3 cases were removed by fiberoptic bronchoscopic holmium laser and/or freezing method to make the foreign body deformed and fragmented and then taken out by the sound gate, and 2 cases were removed because of the In 3 cases, the foreign bodies were deformed and fragmented by fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and in 2 cases, the foreign bodies were removed through the vocal folds because of their special characteristics. Two cases were intubated and sent to ICU after surgery because of obvious vocal edema and difficulty in deoxygenation, two cases were transferred to ICU after cardiac or thoracic surgery, and the rest of them returned to ordinary wards after surgery, and all 10 cases recovered well after surgery. Conclusion:Respiratory foreign body combined with airway stenosis, when the foreign body type, shape, embedded location of special foreign body, foreign body is too large, need to rationally choose the method of foreign body removal. If necessary, a combination of methods can be used to ensure that the airway obstruction is quickly relieved with the best program.

Critical roles of PAI-1 in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury.

PURPOSE: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is the main inhibitor of fibrinolytic systems. The effect of PAI-1 on inflammatory response is still inconsistent. Our study was conducted to investigate its effects on inflammation to clarify the role of PAI-1 in acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: ALI models were established in wild-type (WT) and PAI-1 knockout (KO) mice by LPS intervention for 48 â€‹h. Lung histopathology, wet-dry ratio, total cell count and TNF-α concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and inflammation related proteins were detected. Flow cytometry was used to sort neutrophils, macrophages, regulatory T cells (Treg) and T helper cell 17 (Th17). RNA sequencing was performed to find differentially expressed genes. Masson staining and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze pulmonary fiber deposition and proliferation. RESULTS: Compared with ALI (WT) group, the wet-dry ratio, the total number of BALF cells, the concentration of TNF-α in BALF, and the expression of pp65 in the lung tissue was increased in ALI (PAI-1 KO) group, with increased proportion of neutrophils, decreased proportion of macrophages and decreased proportion of Treg/Th17 in the lung tissue. Collagen fiber deposition and PCNA expression were lighter in ALI (PAI-1 KO) group than ALI (WT) group. PPI analysis showed that PAI-1 was closely related to TNF, IL-6, IL-1ß, Smad2/3 and mainly concentrated in the complement and coagulation system, TNF-α and IL-17 signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: PAI-1 KO could aggravate ALI induced by LPS at 48 â€‹h. PAI-1 may be an important target to improve the prognosis of ALI.

Observed and relative survival trends of lung cancer: A systematic review of population-based cancer registration data.

BACKGROUND: Using the published survival statistics from cancer registration or population-based studies, we aimed to describe the global pattern and trend of lung cancer survival. METHODS: By searching SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and SEER, all survival analyses from cancer registration or population-based studies of lung cancer were collected by the end of November 2022. The survival rates were extracted by sex, period, and country. The observed, relative, and net survival rates of lung cancer were applied to describe the pattern and time changes from the late 1990s to the early 21st century. RESULTS: Age-standardized 5-year relative/net survival rate of lung cancer was typically low, with 10%-20% for most regions. The highest age-standardized relative/net survival rate was observed in Japan (32.9%, 2010-2014), and the lowest was in India (3.7%, 2010-2014). In most countries, the five-year age-standardized relative/net survival rates of lung cancer were higher in females and younger people. The patients with adenocarcinoma had a better prognosis than other groups. In China, the highest 5-year overall relative/net survival rates were 27.90% and 31.62% in men and women in Jiangyin (2012-2013). CONCLUSION: Over the past decades, the prognosis of lung cancer has gradually improved, but significant variations were also observed globally. Worldwide, a better prognosis of lung cancer can be observed in females and younger patients. It is essential to compare and evaluate the histological or stage-specific survival rates of lung cancer between different regions in the future.

Biomedical application of terahertz imaging technology: a narrative review.

Background and Objective: Terahertz (THz) imaging has wide applications in biomedical research due to its properties, such as non-ionizing, non-invasive and distinctive spectral fingerprints. Over the past 6 years, the application of THz imaging in tumor tissue has made encouraging progress. However, due to the strong absorption of THz by water, the large size, high cost, and low sensitivity of THz devices, it is still difficult to be widely used in clinical practice. This paper provides ideas for researchers and promotes the development of THz imaging in clinical research. Methods: The literature search was conducted in the Web of Science and PubMed databases using the keywords "Terahertz imaging", "Breast", "Brain", "Skin" and "Cancer". A total of 94 English language articles from 1 January, 2017 to 30 December, 2022 were reviewed. Key Content and Findings: In this review, we briefly introduced the recent advances in THz near-field imaging, single-pixel imaging and real-time imaging, the applications of THz imaging for detecting breast, brain and skin tissues in the last 6 years were reviewed, and the advantages and existing challenges were identified. It is necessary to combine machine learning and metamaterials to develop real-time THz devices with small size, low cost and high sensitivity that can be widely used in clinical practice. More powerful THz detectors can be developed by combining graphene, designing structures and other methods to improve the sensitivity of the devices and obtain more accurate information. Establishing a THz database is one of the important methods to improve the repeatability and accuracy of imaging results. Conclusions: THz technology is an effective method for tumor imaging. We believe that with the joint efforts of researchers and clinicians, accurate, real-time, and safe THz imaging will be widely applied in clinical practice in the future.

Multiple Isothermal Amplification Coupled with CRISPR-Cas14a for the Naked-eye and Colorimetric Detection of Aflatoxin B1.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is highly toxic and challenging to remove, posing significant risks to both human health and economic development. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop rapid, simple, and sensitive detection technologies. In this study, we introduce a naked-eye and colorimetric method based on multiple isothermal amplifications coupled with CRISPR-Cas14a and investigate its biosensing properties. This technique utilizes composite nanoprobes (MAPs) comprising magnetic nanoparticles and gold nanoparticles. AFB1 is efficiently identified through an aptamer competition process facilitated by magnetic nanoparticles , which triggers multiple isothermal amplification. This converts trace amounts of the toxin into a large quantity of DNA signal. Upon specific activation of the CRISPR-Cas14a complex, the MAPs are cleaved, resulting in significant changes in both color and colorimetric signal. The method demonstrates acceptable sensitivity, with a detection limit of 31.90 pg mL-1 and a wide detection range from 0.05 to 10 ng mL-1. Furthermore, the assay exhibits satisfactory specificity and high accuracy when it is applied to practical samples. Our approach offers a universal sensing platform with potential applications in food safety, environmental monitoring, and clinical diagnostics.

Significance of the auditory meatus inferior wall cartilage in the surgical treatment of congenital first branchial cleft anomalies in children.

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of the inferior wall cartilage of the auditory meatus in surgical treatment of congenital first branchial cleft anomalies (CFBCAs) in children. Methods: Twenty children diagnosed with CFBCAs who underwent surgery between December 2018 and June 2022 at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed and classified according to their Work lesion type. The guiding significance of the inferior wall cartilage in the surgical treatment of CFBCAs was summarized by investigating the adjacent relationships of the surgical lesions with the external auditory canal and facial nerve. Results: Of the 20 patients, 16 were classified as Work type I and 4 as Work type II. The lesions were adjacent to the inferior wall cartilage of the auditory meatus in all children. Work type I lesions were located in the upper lateral aspect and were not adjacent to the facial nerve. Work type II lesions were located in the inferior-medial region of the facial nerve. The lesions were completely resected in all children. One patient experienced recurrence 3 months postoperatively because of a residual endochondral fistula. No patients developed facial paralysis or other complications. Conclusions: The inferior wall cartilage of the auditory meatus may help to the identify the initial lesion of the CFBCAs and can be regarded as a guiding anatomical structure. These lesions can be completely resected. For resection of Work type II first branchial cleft lesions, the surgical incision can be narrower, and can be precisely positioned with the assistance of endoscope.

Clinical features, microbial spectrum, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The microbial spectrum and antimicrobial resistance patterns change over time and vary across regions in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). There is an urgent need to clarify the factors associated with in-hospital mortality in these patients. METHODS: In this study, 377 patients with SBP and 794 patients with bacterascites were analyzed for the microbial spectrum, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and laboratory findings. RESULTS: The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli (96, 25.5%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (55, 14.6%), and Enterococcus faecium (42, 11.1%). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria comprised 49.7% of gram-positive bacteria (GPB) and 48.8% of gram-negative bacteria (GNB). The most sensitive antibiotics were amikacin (91.5%), meropenem (89.8%) and piperacillin/tazobactam (87.6%). Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) (OR=51.457, p < 0.001), neutrophil count (OR=1.088, p < 0.001), and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score (OR=1.124, p < 0.001) were independent predictive factors of in-hospital mortality in patients with SBP. CONCLUSION: MDR represented nearly half of the bacteria isolated from patients with SBP, of which the high prevalence of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing and Carbapenem-resistant bacteria is concerning. The presence of XDR, higher MELD score, and neutrophil count were independent predictive factors associated with higher in-hospital mortality in patients with SBP, indicating that intensive care should be provided to these patients.