Characterization and dosimetric predictors for absolute lymphocyte count changes during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with or without pembrolizumab for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: an analysis of a prospective cohort.

Aim: To characterize the differences of dynamic changes for absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) among esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) with or without pembrolizumab, as well as to investigate the clinical and lymphocyte-related organs dosimetric parameters that would impact ALC nadir during nCRT.

Materials And Methods: A total of 216 ESCC patients who received nCRT (with pembrolizumab 144; without pembrolizumab: 72) were identified from a prospective cohort. Weekly and 1-month post-nCRT ALC were identified.

Effects of EGFR-TKIs combined with intracranial radiotherapy in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases: a retrospective multi-institutional analysis.

Background: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are prone to developing brain metastases (BMs), particularly those with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. In clinical practice, treatment-naïve EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with asymptomatic BMs tend to choose EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first-line therapy and defer intracranial radiotherapy (RT). However, the effectiveness of upfront intracranial RT remains unclear.

Protective mechanism of safflower yellow injection on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by activating NLRP3 inflammasome.

Objectives: This study intended to explore whether the protective effect safflower yellow injection (SYI) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats mediated of the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.

Methods: The I/R model was prepared by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery for 45 min and then releasing the blood flow for 150 min. 96 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham group, I/R group, Hebeishuang group (HBS), SYI high-dose group (I/R + SYI-H), SYI medium-dose group (I/R + SYI-M) and SYI low-dose group (I/R + SYI-L).

LOX-induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis via the TGF-β/LOX/Snail axis in diabetic mice.

Background: The partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is emerging as a significant mechanism in diabetic nephropathy (DN). LOX is a copper amine oxidase conventionally thought to act by crosslinking collagen. However, the role of LOX in partial EMT and fibrotic progression in diabetic nephropathy has not been investigated experimentally.

Estimation of TP53 mutations for endometrial cancer based on diffusion-weighted imaging deep learning and radiomics features.

Objectives: To construct a prediction model based on deep learning (DL) and radiomics features of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and clinical variables for evaluating TP53 mutations in endometrial cancer (EC).

Methods: DWI and clinical data from 155 EC patients were included in this study, consisting of 80 in the training set, 35 in the test set, and 40 in the external validation set. Radiomics features, convolutional neural network-based DL features, and clinical variables were analyzed.

The effects of mobile phone addiction on learning engagement of Chinese college students - the mediating role of physical activity and academic self-efficacy.

Background: With the widespread adoption of smartphones, mobile phone addiction has increasingly gained prominence among Chinese college students, exerting a profound and detrimental impact on their learning engagement. This study employs self-determination theory as a framework to examine the mechanisms through which mobile phone addiction affects students' learning engagement. Specifically, it examines the mediating effects of physical activity and academic self-efficacy in this relationship.

Three-dimensional printed models improve orthopedic residents' understanding of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, a complex three-dimensional spine deformity, presents a formidable challenge for orthopedic residents in understanding its anatomy and surgical strategies. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of three-dimensional printing (3DP) models in enhancing the comprehension of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis among orthopedic residents.

Methods: Forty orthopedic residents were randomly divided into two groups, the first group received lectures that were augmented with 3DP models illustrating five cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, along with corresponding X-ray and CT images.

The experiences of organizational silence among nurses: a qualitative meta-synthesis.

Objective: A growing body of research shows that the organizational silence among nurses not only affects their job satisfaction and performance but also exacerbates their intention to leave their jobs, posing a threat to the long-term stability of the nursing team. Therefore, the aim of this study was to synthesize existing qualitative research to explore the real experiences of nurses' organizational silence behavior and gain insight into the motivations and feelings behind it.

Design: A qualitative review.

Efficacy and safety of topical versus intravenous tranexamic acid in spinal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The relative efficacies of topical and intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) in spinal surgery remain controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of topical versus intravenous TXA in spinal surgery, with a particular focus on the impacts on intraoperative blood loss (IBL) and associated outcomes.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases to identify all literature related to topical and intravenous TXA in spinal surgery.

Broadening horizons: molecular mechanisms and disease implications of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is defined as an important process of cellular differentiation by which endothelial cells (ECs) are prone to lose their characteristics and transform into mesenchymal cells. During EndMT, reduced expression of endothelial adhesion molecules disrupts intercellular adhesion, triggering cytoskeletal reorganization and mesenchymal transition. Numerous studies have proved that EndMT is a multifaceted biological event driven primarily by cytokines such as TGF-β, TNF-α, and IL-1β, alongside signaling pathways like WNT, Smad, MEK-ERK, and Notch.

Quantifying intratumoral heterogeneity within sub-regions to predict high-grade patterns in clinical stage I solid lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: This study aims to quantify intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) using preoperative CT image and evaluate its ability to predict pathological high-grade patterns, specifically micropapillary and/or solid components (MP/S), in patients diagnosed with clinical stage I solid lung adenocarcinoma (LADC).

Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled 457 patients who were postoperatively diagnosed with clinical stage I solid LADC from two medical centers, assigning them to either a training set (n = 304) or a test set (n = 153). Sub-regions within the tumor were identified using the K-means method.

Perceived faculty development needs and motivations of Chinese general practice trainers: a narrative review of the literature.

Background: Like other countries developing standardized general practice training, China faces the challenge of training vast numbers of new general practice faculty. However, little is known about these clinician-teachers' motivations and perceived needs for faculty development. This review intended to explore available published data on Chinese general practice faculty development needs and motivation for ongoing professional development.

The mediating role of coping style in the relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among natural childbirth women in China: a structural equation model analysis.

Background: Psychological birth trauma represents a significant global public health concern, with an estimated 45% of new mothers reporting such an experience. Researchers mostly focus on the impacts of postpartum mental health issues, such as postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder, minimal attention has been given to the antecedents of psychological birth trauma. This study seeks to investigate the correlation between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among Chinese women who have undergone natural childbirth, as well as the mediating role of coping styles in the association between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma.

The indirect effects of school bullying on mathematics achievement: the mediating roles of teacher-student relationships, sense of belonging and differences between genders.

Background: Previous research paid more attention to the negative effects of the bullying on psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression. However, few studies explored the underlying mechanism between bullying and mathematics achievement. The purpose of this study was to explore the direct and indirect effects of school bullying on mathematics achievement among Chinese eighth grade students.

Association between the screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime and essential hypertension in young and middle-aged people: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Watching short videos is an integral part of the daily lives of young and middle-aged people. Nevertheless, the correlation between the screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime and essential hypertension in young and middle-aged people remains unclear. We aimed to explore the correlation between the screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime and essential hypertension among young and middle-aged people and construct a nomogram prediction model for assessing the probability of developing essential hypertension for these age groups.

Associations of short-term exposure to air pollution with risk of pulmonary space-occupying lesions morbidity based on a time-series study.

Background: Pulmonary space-occupying lesions are typical chronic pulmonary diseases that contribute significantly to healthcare resource use and impose a large disease burden in China. A time-series ecological trend study was conducted to investigate the associations between environmental factors and hospitalizations for pulmonary space-occupying lesions in North of China from 2014 to 2022.

Methods: The DLNM was used to quantify the association of environmental factors with lung cancer admissions.

CK19 protein expression: the best cutoff value on the prognosis and the prognosis model of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Objective: In clinical practice, CK19 can be an important predictor for the prognosis of HCC. Due to the high incidence and mortality rates of HCC, more effective and practical prognostic prediction models need to be developed urgently.

Methods: A total of 1,168 HCC patients, who underwent radical surgery at the Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, between January 2014 and July 2019, were recruited, and their clinicopathological data were collected.

High matrix stiffness accelerates migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the integrin β1-Plectin-F-actin axis.

Background: Abundant research indicates that increased extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness significantly enhances the malignant characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Plectin, an essential cytoskeletal linker protein, has recently emerged as a promoter of cancer progression, particularly in the context of cancer cell invasion and metastasis. However, the responsiveness of plectin to changes in ECM stiffness and its impact on HCC progression remain unclear.

Metagenomic analysis identifying a polymicrobial pulmonary infection in a non-HIV immunocompromised patient: a case report.

Background: Polymicrobial pulmonary infections, common in immunocompromised patients, often manifest more severe symptoms than monomicrobial infections. Clinical diagnosis delays may lead to mortality, emphasizing the importance of fast and accurate diagnosis for these patients. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), as an unbiased method capable of detecting all microbes, is a valuable tool to identify pathogens, particularly in cases where infections are difficult to diagnosis using conventional methods.

An improvement in visual acuity accompanied by the development of RPE tear: a case report.

Background: Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tear is a well-known complication of RPE detachment and is typically associated with significant visual acuity decline. However, in this case, despite the occurrence of an RPE tear there was an unexpected improvement in visual acuity.

Case Presentation: A 68-year-old male presented with blurred vision in his right eye of a month's duration.

Diagnostic role of circulating long non-coding RNA LINC00312 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective study.

Background: LINC00312 has shown to play a suppressive role in the development and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the expression pattern and diagnostic role of circulating LINC00312 in NSCLC remain to be confused.

Methods: A total of 319 patients diagnosed with NSCLC and 180 healthy volunteers were enrolled from the First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University between January, 2022 and December, 2023.

Effects of the Early Start Denver Model on emotional dysregulation and behavior problems in children with Autism spectrum disorder : Effects of the early start Denver model on emotional dysregulation and behavior problems in Chinese children with Autism spectrum disorder.

Background: Most previous studies have focused on the clinical efficacy after intervention of ESDM, particularly in core symptoms. However, only a few have paid attention to the effectiveness of ESDM on emotional dysregulation and behavior problems in children with ASD. This study aimed to explore the effect of the ESDM on addressing emotional dysregulation and behavior problems in children with ASD in China, as well as its correlation with core symptoms of ASD.

Development of Bayesian segmented Poisson regression model to forecast COVID-19 dynamics based on wastewater data: a case study in Nanning City, China.

Introduction: COVID-19 has caused tremendous hardships and challenges around the globe. Due to the prevalence of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic carriers, relying solely on disease testing to screen for infections is not entirely reliable, which may affect the accuracy of predictions about the pandemic trends. This study is dedicated to developing a predictive model aimed at estimating of the dynamics of COVID-19 at an early stage based on wastewater data, to assist in establishing an effective early warning system for disease control.

Long read Nanopore sequencing identifies precise breakpoints of a de novo paracentric inversion that disrupt the MEIS2 gene in a Chinese girl with syndromic developmental delay.

Background: Chromosomal inversions are underappreciated causes of rare diseases given their detection, resolution, and clinical interpretation remain challenging. Heterozygous mutations in the MEIS2 gene cause an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by intellectual disability, cleft palate, congenital heart defect, and facial dysmorphism at variable severity and penetrance.

Case Presentation: Herein, we report a Chinese girl with intellectual disability, developmental delay, and congenital heart defect, in whom G-banded karyotype analysis identified a de novo paracentric inversion 46,XX, inv(15)(q15q26.

High taurocholic acid concentration induces ferroptosis by downregulating FTH1 expression in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver disorder associated with pregnancy and is usually diagnosed based on high serum bile acid. However, the pathogenesis of ICP is unclear. Ferroptosis has been reported as an iron-dependent mechanism of cell death.