Long-term outcome of childhood and adolescent patients with craniopharyngiomas: a single center retrospective experience.

Background: The treatment of craniopharyngiomas (CPs) poses challenges due to their proximity to critical neural structures, the risk of serious complications, and the impairment of quality of life after treatment. However, long-term prognostic data are still scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with CPs after treatment.

Irisin reprograms microglia through activation of STAT6 and prevents cognitive dysfunction after surgery in mice.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is common in the aged population and associated with poor clinical outcomes. Irisin, an endogenous molecule that mediates the beneficial effects of exercise, has shown neuroprotective potential in several models of neurological diseases. Here we show that preoperative serum level of irisin is reduced in dementia patients over the age of 70.

The effect of maternal dietary polyphenol consumption on offspring metabolism.

The early intrauterine environment of mothers during pregnancy significantly affects the metabolic health of their offspring. Existing studies suggest that poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy increases the risk of obesity or diabetes in offspring, so it is highly important to intervene during pregnancy to prevent metabolic disorders in mothers and their offspring. Polyphenols with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are found in many foods and have protective effects on obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

A feasibility study of using virtual noncontrast images synthesized from dual-energy computed tomography for radiotherapy treatment planning.

Background: In the traditional computed tomography (CT) simulation process, patients need to undergo CT scans before and after injection of iodine-based contrast agent, resulting in a cumbersome workflow and additional imaging dose. Contrast-enhanced spectral CT can synthesize true contrast-enhanced (TCE) images and virtual noncontrast (VNC) images in a single scan without geometric misalignment. To improve work efficiency and reduce patients' imaging dose, we studied the feasibility of using VNC images for radiotherapy treatment planning, with true noncontrast (TNC) images as references and explored its dosimetric advantages compared to using TCE images.

The prognostic implication of skip metastasis to lateral neck in patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: Pre-operative detection of skip metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is significant in preventing recurrence. The study aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognosis of skip metastasis to lateral neck in PTC patients by a cross-sectional study.

Methods: Between 2013 and 2016, 494 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for PTC and positive lateral lymph node metastases (LLNM) were retrospectively identified.

DeepNeXt: a lightweight polyp segmentation algorithm based on multi-scale attention.

Background: Fast and accurate automatic segmentation of polyps in colonoscopy plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer. However, the current polyp segmentation algorithms based on deep neural networks suffer from the problems of larger models and lower segmentation accuracy. Meanwhile, achieving accurate segmentation of polyps is to improve the diagnostic efficiency of doctors, and this need motivates us to develop a set of lightweight models so that it can be easily embedded in clinical devices to meet the requirements of practical applications.

Prognostic value of left atrial strain in patients with stage II light-chain cardiac amyloidosis receiving cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The prognostic significance of left atrial (LA) dysfunction in cardiac amyloidosis is being increasingly acknowledged, but its importance in stage II light-chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL-CA) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of LA strain in stage II AL-CA.

Methods: Patients with stage II AL-CA who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1, 2015, and October 31, 2021, were consecutively enrolled in this cohort study.

Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase Mediating Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome.

Pollen-food allergy syndrome is an IgE-mediated allergic reaction arising from cross-reactive homologous allergens found in both food and pollen. Allergens, such as pathogenesis-related protein class 10 and profilin, usually trigger oropharyngeal itching and numbness in patients, whereas lipid transfer proteins tend to induce anaphylaxis. This article presents a case study of an individual with Artemisia pollen allergy who experienced anaphylaxis after consuming red fruit ginseng, a perennial herb belonging to the Campanulaceae family.

Self-management behavior preferences and influencing factors in Chinese patients with recurrent gout: A qualitative study.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the preferences and influencing factors of self-management behaviors in patients with recurrent gout and provide a theoretical basis for developing targeted strategies to improve self-management preferences.

Methods: A total of 10 patients with recurrent gout were recruited from the gout specialist outpatient clinic at a tertiary hospital in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with these patients, and the Kawakita Jiro (KJ) method was used to analyze the interview data.

Exploring potential causal genetic variants and genes for endometrial cancer: Open Targets Genetics, Mendelian randomization, and multi-tissue transcriptome-wide association analysis.

Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy in developed countries, with incidence rates continuing to rise globally. However, the precise mechanisms underlying EC pathogenesis remain largely unexplored. This study aims to prioritize genes associated with EC by leveraging multi-omics data through various bioinformatic methods.

A worldwide assessment of the mechanical ventilation in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Analysis of the VENTILAGROUP over time. A retrospective, multicenter study.

Background: The trend over time and across different geographical areas of outcomes and management with noninvasive ventilation or invasive mechanical ventilation in patients admitted for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and treated with ventilatory support is unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe outcomes and identify variables associated with survival for patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [aeCOPD] who received noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation worldwide.

Methods: Retrospective, multi-national, and multicenter studies, including four observational cohort studies, were carried out in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016 for the VENTILAGROUP following the same methodology.

Efficacy and safety of azathioprine in patients with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: a case series from Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Background: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare non-hereditary chronic inflammatory disease characteristic of gastrointestinal polyps and ectodermal abnormalities. Corticosteroid therapy is the mainstay medication for CCS. Few studies indicated immunosuppressants might be the choices for patients with steroid refractory, steroid dependent or intolerant.

Association of non-insulin-dependent insulin resistance indices with lower limb artery restenosis after drug-coated balloon angioplasty.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the associations between noninsulin-dependent insulin resistance indices (NI-IRIs), including the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, TyG-BMI, triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C), and metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), as well as the occurrence of restenosis in patients with lower extremity atherosclerotic occlusive disease after drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment.

Methods: The primary endpoint was restenosis within one year after the procedure, which was defined as ≥ 50% stenosis of the treated artery segment. The association between NI-IRIs and restenosis was assessed via multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Effects of long-acting versus short-acting granulocyte colony stimulating factor after radiotherapy in gynecologic malignancies: a prospective observational cohort study.

Little is known about the role of the protective effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients after radiotherapy. The aim of the present study was to explore the prophylactic effects of long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on febrile neutropenia (FN) and myelosuppression in chemotherapy patients with gynecologic malignancies after pelvic radiotherapy. Patients voluntarily participated in a study group (long-acting G-CSF for all chemotherapy cycles) and a control group (short-acting G-CSF) after they were educated about G-CSF utilization.

Difference in fecal and oral microbiota between pancreatic cancer and benign/low-grade malignant tumor patients.

Background: Significant gaps exist in understanding the gastrointestinal microbiota in patients with pancreatic cancer (PCA) versus benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic tumors (NPCA). This study aimed to analyze these microbiota characteristics and explore their potential use in distinguishing malignant pancreatic lesions.

Methods: Between September 2020 and May 2024, fecal and oral samples were collected from 121 patients undergoing surgical resection or diagnostic biopsy of pancreatic lesions, including 75 patients with PCA and 46 patients with NPCA, and 16s rRNA sequencing was performed.

Associations between serum uric acid and risk of depressive symptoms in East Asian populations.

Background: Despite the fact that observational studies have reported associations between serum uric acid (SUA) and depressive symptoms risk in East Asian populations, there is a lack of evidence demonstrating a causal relationship between them. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive assessment of the relationship between SUA and depressive symptoms.

Methods: This study included two cohort studies and a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Plasma metabolomics profiling of EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients treated with third-generation EGFR-TKI.

Third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are the latest and a vital treatment option for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Although EGFR-sensitive mutations are an indication for third-generation EGFR-TKI therapy, 30% of NSCLC patients lack response and all patients inevitably progress. There is a lack of biomarkers to predict the efficacy of EGFR-TKI therapy.

Evaluation of gecacitinib vs hydroxyurea in patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk myelofibrosis: final analysis results from a randomized phase 3 study.

To compare the efficacy and safety of gecacitinib (also known as jaktinib) with hydroxyurea (HU) in treating myelofibrosis (MF) patients. In this multicenter, randomized phase 3 trial (ZGJAK016), intermediate- or high-risk primarily JAK inhibitor naïve MF patients were assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive either gecacitinib (100 mg twice a day, BID) or HU (500 mg BID). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with ≥35% reduction in spleen volume (SVR35) from baseline at week 24.

Evaluation of three rapid assays for detecting Mycoplasma pneumoniae in nasopharyngeal specimens.

During the 2023 autumn-winter period in China, Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infections have increased. To address this, rapid and accurate MP DNA detection methods are crucial. Three nucleic acid detection assays (Ustar, Coyote Flash10, Coyote Flash 20) that are widely used in China are currently being evaluated for their effectiveness in detecting MP DNA in nasopharyngeal specimens.

[Mid-long term follow-up reports on head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma in children].

To analyze the clinical characteristics of children with head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and to summarize the mid-long term efficacy of Beijing Children's Hospital Rhabdomyosarcoma 2006 (BCH-RMS-2006) regimen and China Children's Cancer Group Rhabdomyosarcoma 2016 (CCCG-RMS-2016) regimen. A retrospective cohort study. Clinical data of 137 children with newly diagnosed head and neck RMS at Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from March 2013 to December 2021 were collected.

Global Distribution of Colorectal Cancer Staging at Diagnosis: An Evidence Synthesis.

Background & Aims: Stage at diagnosis is a key prognostic factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) survival. We aimed to assess the global distribution of CRC staging at diagnosis using population-based or hospital-based registry data.

Methods: We systematically searched in MEDLINE and Embase from their inception until December 6, 2023.