Dear Editor,Non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI)refers to the intentional,self-inflicted damage of body tissues in the absence of suicidal intent and represents a highly prevalent and clinically significant behavioral issue...Dear Editor,Non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI)refers to the intentional,self-inflicted damage of body tissues in the absence of suicidal intent and represents a highly prevalent and clinically significant behavioral issue among adolescents[1].展开更多
Plant functional traits are key for understanding the adaptive strategies to environments,and fine roots play a crucial role in nutrient acquisition.Examining the variation of functional traits of fine root and soil p...Plant functional traits are key for understanding the adaptive strategies to environments,and fine roots play a crucial role in nutrient acquisition.Examining the variation of functional traits of fine root and soil physicochemical properties,and investigating their coupling relationships and dominating factors,could provide a theoretical foundation for ecological restoration in the burned forest.We established 12 plots within Pinus tabuliformis Carrière forests subjected to light,moderate and severe fire severities.Through detailed analysis of fine roots and soil physicochemical properties,we evaluated the variations and coupling effects in fine root functional traits and soil properties using the Coupling Coordination Degree Model and Partial Least Squares Path Modeling.Our results showed significant differences in the functional traits of fine root and soil physicochemical properties across fire severities(P<0.05).The coupling coordination degrees between fine root functional features and soil physicochemical properties ranged from 0.4 to 0.6,with the following order:unburned,moderate,severe and light severity.Forest fire negatively impacted the coupling coordination degree indirectly,primarily influenced by the direct positive effects of fine root morphological traits(e.g.,specific root length)and soil nutrient properties(e.g.,nitrogen and available phosphorus).The synergistic recovery of fine root-soil systems in Pinus tabuliformis forests was most pronounced following moderate fire severity,showing a medium-level coordination degree.For light-severity fires,enhancing fine root morphological characteristics through soil warming is recommended.In contrast,it is suggested to apply appropriate nitrogen and soil fertilizers for improving soil conditions after severe fire.展开更多
Automated grading of dandruff severity is a clinically significant but challenging task due to the inherent ordinal nature of severity levels and the high prevalence of label noise from subjective expert annotations.S...Automated grading of dandruff severity is a clinically significant but challenging task due to the inherent ordinal nature of severity levels and the high prevalence of label noise from subjective expert annotations.Standard classification methods fail to address these dual challenges,limiting their real-world performance.In this paper,a novel,three-phase training framework is proposed that learns a robust ordinal classifier directly from noisy labels.The approach synergistically combines a rank-based ordinal regression backbone with a cooperative,semi-supervised learning strategy to dynamically partition the data into clean and noisy subsets.A hybrid training objective is then employed,applying a supervised ordinal loss to the clean set.The noisy set is simultaneously trained using a dualobjective that combines a semi-supervised ordinal loss with a parallel,label-agnostic contrastive loss.This design allows themodel to learn fromthe entire noisy subset while using contrastive learning to mitigate the risk of error propagation frompotentially corrupt supervision.Extensive experiments on a new,large-scale,multi-site clinical dataset validate our approach.Themethod achieves state-of-the-art performance with 80.71%accuracy and a 76.86%F1-score,significantly outperforming existing approaches,including a 2.26%improvement over the strongest baseline method.This work provides not only a robust solution for a practical medical imaging problem but also a generalizable framework for other tasks plagued by noisy ordinal labels.展开更多
This study investigates the spatial determinants of freight-related injury crashes in Fortaleza,Brazil,focusing on three outcomes:Possible Injury Crashes(PIC),Evident Injury Crashes(EIC),and Fatal Injury Crashes(FIC)....This study investigates the spatial determinants of freight-related injury crashes in Fortaleza,Brazil,focusing on three outcomes:Possible Injury Crashes(PIC),Evident Injury Crashes(EIC),and Fatal Injury Crashes(FIC).A rich urban dataset incorporating land use,freight infrastructure,road design,and traffic characteristics was analyzed across three spatial aggregations:hexagons,aggregated neighborhoods,and census tracts.Two complementary modeling techniques were employed:Zero-Inflated Poisson(ZIP)models were used to account for excessive zeros in crash counts,while Extreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)provided a high-performing machine learning approach capable of capturing nonlinear relationships.XGBoost results show that the density of traffic signals,density of freeway lane mileage,and density of truck volumes are the dominant factors influencing freight-related injury risk across spatial scales.ZIP results highlighted the significant impact of freight proximity(e.g.,distance to ports,airports,and intermodal terminals),infrastructure density(e.g.,traffic signals,freeway lanes),and land-use intensity(e.g.,job density and retail zones)on crash occurrence and severity.To interpret the complex patterns captured by XGBoost,Shapley Additive Explanations(SHAP)analysis was used.SHAP dependence and interaction plots revealed threshold effects and spatial interactions such as increased EIC and FIC risk in areas with high truck exposure and dense signal or freeway infrastructure.Notably,PIC risk was highest close to the airports,especially where primary roads and poles coexisted.The study demonstrates that both linear and nonlinear modeling frameworks are necessary to uncover the layered nature of freight-induced crash risks.Policy implications include optimizing traffic control density,enhancing safety in freight corridors,and prioritizing pedestrian protection near logistics hubs.By integrating statistical and explainable machine learning methods,the study offers actionable insights for data-driven urban safety and mobility planning.展开更多
An analysis of Beijing urban rail transit emergency data from 2016 to 2018 is conducted to identify the factors influencing emergency severity.A severity probability distribution model is proposed,incorporating season...An analysis of Beijing urban rail transit emergency data from 2016 to 2018 is conducted to identify the factors influencing emergency severity.A severity probability distribution model is proposed,incorporating seasonal effects,multi-dimensional features(passenger,vehicle,line,environment),random parameters,interaction terms,and weather variables(temperature,humidity,wind speed)to capture severity probability changes driven by seasonally influenced factors.High performance is achieved by the model,with 92.10%accuracy,95.17%sensitivity,and 87.58%specificity.Five key factors—bad weather(correlation=-0.0611,p<0.001),track failure(correlation=-0.0503,p<0.001),signal failure(correlation=-0.0483,p<0.001),urban area(correlation=-0.0441,p<0.001),and vehicle failure(correlation=-0.0435,p<0.001)—are identified,with their interactions amplifying risks,particularly the coupling effect between bad weather and train system failures.Notable seasonal effects are observed:In summer,high temperature and humidity increase vehicle and equipment failures;in autumn,temperature fluctuations raise signaling anomaly risks;in winter,low temperatures elevate track and equipment failure risks;and in spring and winter,windy weather exacerbates risks for suburban elevated lines.This study highlights the need for refined risk identification and response mechanisms at the seasonal and regional levels,such as targeted inspections and weather-triggered controls,to enhance operational safety in urban rail transit under complex weather conditions.展开更多
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder(ASD)involves social and neurological impairment,and affected individuals have an elevated risk of bullying.AIM To clarify serum folate(SF)and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)...BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder(ASD)involves social and neurological impairment,and affected individuals have an elevated risk of bullying.AIM To clarify serum folate(SF)and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)expression in ASD-affected children and evaluate their prediction value for illness severity.METHODS From February 2023 to February 2025,53 ASD-affected children and 50 healthy controls visiting Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital were enrolled as the research and control groups,respectively.SF and BDNF levels were measured in all children.The Childhood Autism Rating Scale(CARS)was used to assess ASD symptom severity.In ASD cases,SF and BDNF expression differences were compared across illness-severity subgroups and before versus after treatment.Pearson r was used to assess correlations between SF/BDNF and CARS in the research group.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were used to assess their predictive value for ASD severity.Univariate and multivariate binary Logistic models were used to identify ASD progression determinants.RESULTS ASD children showed significantly lower SF and higher BDNF higher than controls.Severe cases had lower SF and higher BDNF than mild-to-moderate cases.SF correlated inversely with the CARS score,whereas BDNF correlated positively.For predicting ASD severity,the area under the ROC curve(AUC)of SF and BDNF was 0.700-0.750,and their combined use increased the AUC to 0.823.Both markers were confirmed to be independent determinants of ASD aggravation.CONCLUSION SF is down-regulated and BDNF is up-regulated in ASD-affected children,SF correlates negatively with ASD severity and BDNF correlates positively.Low SF and high BDNF are risk factors for ASD deterioration in children.展开更多
BACKGROUND:Rapid identification of patients at risk of clinical deterioration(in-hospital mortality) in emergency settings is essential for timely and appropriate care.Existing prognostic scores,such as the Acute Phys...BACKGROUND:Rapid identification of patients at risk of clinical deterioration(in-hospital mortality) in emergency settings is essential for timely and appropriate care.Existing prognostic scores,such as the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV(APACHE IV),Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3(SAPS 3),Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA),and National Early Warning Score 2(NEWS 2),have limitations in emergency scenarios,particularly in resource-limited settings.We aimed to develop a simple and efficient tool tailored to the Brazilian healthcare system.METHODS:This retrospective,multicenter,cohort study analyzed data from 50,709 adult patients admitted to 12 hospitals in southern and southeastern Brazil between 2019 and 2020.The BRASIL score(Brazilian Risk Assessment Severity Index and Length of stay) was constructed using demographic and clinical variables available at admission.Logistic regression was used to determine the weight of each variable,and each variable was assigned a point value based on its β-coefficient and clinical relevance,with thresholds defined according to established medical cutoffs and statistical performance.The score's predictive accuracy was validated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC) with comparative analysis against NEWS 2.RESULTS:The BRASIL score,including age,sex,respiratory rate,heart rate,oxygen saturation,blood pressure,and body temperature,was derived through variables independently associated with in-hospital mortality in a multicenter cohort.The total score was stratified into three risk categories — low(0–3 points),moderate(4–7 points),and high(>7 points) — using observed inflection points in mortality distribution to optimize discrimination.This stratification demonstrated a stepwise increase in mortality rates across categories and the discriminatory performance,with an overall AUC of 0.743(95% CI:0.726–0.761).Compared to NEWS 2(AUC 0.697,95% CI:0.683–0.711),the BRASIL score offered superior early risk identification,supporting timely clinical decisionmaking and resource allocation in the emergency setting.CONCLUSION:The BRASIL score is a novel tool for predicting in-hospital mortality in emergency departments.Its predictive performance and ease of use suggest that it has the potential to improve patient outcomes.展开更多
In high-altitude basins,snow and glaciers influence precipitation effectiveness by storing winter snowfall and regulate streamflow through delayed meltwater release,leading to distinct seasonal and hydrological drough...In high-altitude basins,snow and glaciers influence precipitation effectiveness by storing winter snowfall and regulate streamflow through delayed meltwater release,leading to distinct seasonal and hydrological drought responses.This study applies an Intensity–Duration–Frequency(IDF)framework to quantify meteorological and hydrological droughts in the Astore Basin,Pakistan using long-term precipitation and streamflow data(1970–2016).The Standardized Precipitation Index(SPI)and Standardized Streamflow Index(SSI)were calculated at 1-,3-,6-,and 12-month time scales to characterize drought severity,duration,and frequency.Frequency analysis was conducted to estimate precipitation and streamflow deficits for return periods ranging from 2 to 100 years and drought durations between 1 and 11 months.Results show that drought severity and duration increase systematically with both time scale and return period.For short-term droughts(SPI-1/SSI-1),deficits are confined to 3 months for a 2-year return period and increase to 5 months for return periods of 5-100 years,with precipitation deficits reaching~66 mm and streamflow deficits~330 m3/sec for extreme events.Medium-term droughts(SPI-3/SSI-3 and SPI-6/SSI-6)exhibit longer durations of 7-9 months for 50-100 year return periods,with cumulative precipitation deficits of~188 mm(SPI-3)and~564 mm(SPI-6),and corresponding streamflow deficits of~1256 m3/sec(SSI-3)and~907 m3/sec(SSI-6).Long-term droughts(SPI-12/SSI-12)represent persistent basin-scale water stress,with durations extending up to 11 months and maximum deficits of~443 mm for precipitation and~1623 m3/sec for streamflow at the 100-year return period.Across all time scales,the highest drought severity occurs during pre-monsoon and winter seasons,reflecting limited precipitation,high agricultural water demand,and delayed hydrological response.These results demonstrate the importance of multi-scale deficit-based IDF analysis for quantifying drought risk in snow-and glacier-fed basins and supporting long-term water resource management.展开更多
BACKGROUND Polytrauma is associated with the release of various biomarkers,including interleukin(IL)-6,a proinflammatory cytokine with prognostic value.AIM To evaluate the association between IL-6 measured within the ...BACKGROUND Polytrauma is associated with the release of various biomarkers,including interleukin(IL)-6,a proinflammatory cytokine with prognostic value.AIM To evaluate the association between IL-6 measured within the first 24 hours of admission and the injury severity score(ISS)among adult polytrauma patients and to explore the link between early IL-6 levels and in-hospital mortality.METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of articles published between 2004 and 2024 in the OVID EMBASE and PubMed databases.The primary outcomes of interest were ISS and all-cause in-hospital mortality.Heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using the I²statistic.Correlations were performed using Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation coefficients.The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess bias in the included studies.RESULTS A total of 1126 studies were screened,of which 15 were selected,yielding 2106 polytrauma patients.The pooled effect size for the correlation between IL-6 and ISS using the Pearson’s coefficient was 0.49[95%CI:0.36-0.60;I²:72.2%,P(heterogeneity)=0.02],while that for studies using the Spearman’s coefficient was 0.50[95%CI:0.41-0.58;I²:33.2%,P(heterogeneity)=0.18].Six studies indicated that IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in non-survivors compared with survivors.CONCLUSION Among polytrauma patients,elevated IL-6 levels within the first 24 hours of admission are associated with higher rates of severe injury and in-hospital mortality.Future research should investigate how early IL-6 levels can be used with other biomarkers to predict injury severity and worse outcomes.Additionally,larger-scale studies should be conducted to assess the tool's validity across a variety of populations.展开更多
The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic placed unprecedented strain on emergency departments(ED),demanding rapid,reliable,and widely accessible tools to guide early clinical decision-making.While computed tomog...The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic placed unprecedented strain on emergency departments(ED),demanding rapid,reliable,and widely accessible tools to guide early clinical decision-making.While computed tomography offers high sensitivity for detecting pulmonary involvement,its routine use is limited by cost,logistics,and patient volume.In this context,chest radiography despite its lower sensitivity regains relevance when combined with structured severity scoring systems.Mohammed et al published a study in the World Journal of Critical Care Medicine provides timely and pragmatic evidence on the clinical utility of two established chest X-ray–based scores,the Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema and the BRIXIA score,in predicting oxygen support requirements in COVID-19 patients.By correlating radiographic severity with the need for escalating oxygen delivery devices,the authors demonstrate that higher scores reliably identify patients likely to require advanced respiratory support in the ED.Importantly,the study highlights that these scores perform best in predicting higher levels of support,rather than excluding mild disease,underscoring their value in triage and resource allocation.A notable strength of this work is the rigorous assessment of inter-and intra-rater reliability following structured clinician training,confirming that both scores can be applied consistently across specialties.Although predictive accuracy diminishes later during hospitalization reflecting the multifactorial nature of clinical deterioration,the findings reinforce chest radiography as a rapid,low-cost,and globally available prognostic tool.This letter underscores how standardized chest X-ray scorings can meaningfully inform frontline decisions during respiratory pandemics and beyond.展开更多
BACKGROUND Adolescent major depressive disorder(MDD)imposes an increasingly severe global health burden.Current diagnosis relies predominantly on subjective symptom reporting.Adolescents exhibit a unique immunobiologi...BACKGROUND Adolescent major depressive disorder(MDD)imposes an increasingly severe global health burden.Current diagnosis relies predominantly on subjective symptom reporting.Adolescents exhibit a unique immunobiological landscape,characterized by immune signatures that differ from those of adults.This feature may enable development of an immunopsychiatric framework for adolescent depression.AIM To investigate whether routinely measured peripheral immune parameters could both identify depression and reflect its severity in treatment-naive adolescents.METHODS We employed a two-stage,multicenter design.In stage I,a cross-sectional sample of 2115 first-episode,drug-naive adolescents with MDD was recruited from three regional centers in China.Associations between peripheral immune parameters and derived ratios with depression severity were assessed by the Self-Rating Depression Scale,with sex-stratified analyses.In stage II,a case-control study enrolled 41 adolescents with MDD and 41 controls.Multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed to evaluate the discriminatory capacity of candidate immune indicators.RESULTS Compared with healthy peers,adolescents with MDD had significantly lower lymphocyte counts[odds ratio(OR)=0.27,95%confidence interval(CI):0.13-0.57]and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio(LMR;OR=0.72,95%CI:0.56-0.92).Paradoxically,within the MDD group,higher lymphocyte count(OR=1.10,95%CI:1.01-1.22)and LMR(OR=1.06,95%CI:1.01-1.13)were independently associated with greater depression severity,an effect most accentuated in female participants(OR=1.17,95%CI:1.01-1.35).receiver operating characteristic analyses confirmed moderate discriminative accuracy for lymphocyte count[area under the curve(AUC)=0.76,95%CI:0.66-0.87]and LMR(AUC=0.70,95%CI:0.59-0.81).A composite model integrating age,sex,and key immune parameters achieved good discrimination(bootstrap-corrected AUC=0.79,95%CI:0.73-0.82).CONCLUSION Our findings reveal a bidirectional immunological pattern in adolescent MDD:Reduced lymphocyte count supports diagnostic identification,while elevated levels correlate with greater illness severity.These results support a stage-dependent immunopsychiatric model and lend support to precision mental health strategies in youth.展开更多
BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis(AP)is an emergency gastrointestinal disease that requires immediate diagnosis and urgent clinical treatment.An accurate assessment and precise staging of severity are essential in initial...BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis(AP)is an emergency gastrointestinal disease that requires immediate diagnosis and urgent clinical treatment.An accurate assessment and precise staging of severity are essential in initial intensive therapy.AIM To explore the prognostic value of inflammatory markers and several scoring systems[Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II,the bedside index of severity in AP(BISAP),Ranson’s score,the computed tomography severity index(CTSI)and sequential organ failure assessment]in severity stratification of earlyphase AP.METHODS A total of 463 patients with AP admitted to our hospital between 1 January 2021 and 30 June 2024 were retrospectively enrolled in this study.Inflammation marker and scoring system levels were calculated and compared between different severity groups.Relationships between severity and several predictors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.Predictive ability was estimated using receiver operating characteristic curves.RESULTS Of the 463 patients,50(10.80%)were classified as having severe AP(SAP).The results revealed that the white cell count significantly increased,whereas the prognostic nutritional index measured within 48 hours(PNI48)and calcium(Ca2+)were decreased as the severity of AP increased(P<0.001).According to multivariate logistic regression,C-reactive protein measured within 48 hours(CRP48),Ca2+levels,and PNI48 were independent risk factors for predicting SAP.The area under the curve(AUC)values for the CRP48,Ca2+,PNI48,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II,sequential organ failure assessment,BISAP,CTSI,and Ranson scores for the prediction of SAP were 0.802,0.736,0.871,0.799,0.783,0.895,0.931 and 0.914,respectively.The AUC for the combined CRP48+Ca2++PNI48 model was 0.892.The combination of PNI48 and Ranson achieved an AUC of 0.936.CONCLUSION Independent risk factors for developing SAP include CRP48,Ca2+,and PNI48.CTSI,BISAP,and the combination of PNI48 and the Ranson score can act as reliable predictors of SAP.展开更多
Fibrotic remodeling of nucleus pulposus(NP)leads to structural and mechanical anomalies of intervertebral discs that prone to degeneration,leading to low back pain incidence and disability.Emergence of fibroblastic ce...Fibrotic remodeling of nucleus pulposus(NP)leads to structural and mechanical anomalies of intervertebral discs that prone to degeneration,leading to low back pain incidence and disability.Emergence of fibroblastic cells in disc degeneration has been reported,yet their nature and origin remain elusive.In this study,we performed an integrative analysis of multiple single-cell RNA sequencing datasets to interrogate the cellular heterogeneity and fibroblast-like entities in degenerative human NP specimens.We found that disc degeneration severity is associated with an enrichment of fibrocyte phenotype,characterized by CD45 and collagen I dual positivity,and expression of myofibroblast markerα-smooth muscle actin.Refined clustering and classification distinguished the fibrocyte-like populations as subtypes in the NP cells-and immunocytes-clusters,expressing disc degeneration markers HTRA1 and ANGPTL4 and genes related to response to TGF-β.In injury-induced mouse disc degeneration model,fibrocytes were found recruited into the NP undergoing fibrosis and adopted a myofibroblast phenotype.Depleting the fibrocytes in CD11b-DTR mice in which myeloid-derived lineages were ablated by diphtheria toxin could markedly attenuate fibrous modeling and myofibroblast formation in the NP of the degenerative discs,and prevent disc height loss and histomorphological abnormalities.Marker analysis supports that disc degeneration progression is dependent on a function of CD45+COL1A1+andαSMA+cells.Our findings reveal that myeloid-derived fibrocytes play a pivotal role in NP fibrosis and may therefore be a target for modifying disc degeneration and promoting its repair.展开更多
Background:Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a global pandemic with high mortality,and the treatment options for the severe patients remain limited.Previous studies reported the altered gut mi-crobiota in severe CO...Background:Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a global pandemic with high mortality,and the treatment options for the severe patients remain limited.Previous studies reported the altered gut mi-crobiota in severe COVID-19.But there are no comprehensive data on the role of microbial metabolites in COVID-19 patients.Methods:We identified 153 serum microbial metabolites and assessed the changes in 72 COVID-19 pa-tients upon admission and one-month after their discharge,comparing these changes to those in 133 healthy control individuals from the outpatient department during the same period.Results:Our study revealed that microbial metabolites varied across different stages and severity of COVID-19 patients.These altered microbial metabolites included tryptophan,bile acids,fatty acids,amino acids,vitamins and those containing benzene.A total of 13 distinct microbial metabolites were identi-fied in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls.Notably,correlations were found among these disrupted metabolites and organ injury and inflammatory responses related to COVID-19.Furthermore,these metabolites did not restore to the normal levels one month after discharge.Importantly,two mi-crobial metabolites were the core microbial metabolites related to the severity of COVID-19 patients.Conclusions:The microbial metabolites were altered in the acute and recovery stage,correlating with dis-ease severity of COVID-19.These results indicated the important role of gut microbiota in the progression of COVID-19,and facilitated the potential therapeutic microbial target for severe COVID-19 patients.展开更多
Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a complex and potentially life-threatening inflammatory condition with a highly variable clinical course,ranging from mild,selflimiting episodes to severe necrotizing forms.Among its common co...Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a complex and potentially life-threatening inflammatory condition with a highly variable clinical course,ranging from mild,selflimiting episodes to severe necrotizing forms.Among its common complications ascites has traditionally been viewed as a passive byproduct of peritoneal inflammation and enzymatic leakage with limited diagnostic or prognostic utility.However,growing evidence challenges this perspective,suggesting that ascitic fluid in AP represents a dynamic and clinically meaningful component of disease progression.In this editorial we reflected on the findings presented by Rao et al,who highlighted the diagnostic,prognostic,and therapeutic significance of ascitic fluid in AP.Easily accessible markers such as lactate dehydrogenase may provide early prognostic insight while emerging molecular biomarkers and cytokine pro-files offer promise for more precise risk stratification and individualized therapy.We argue that the systematic evaluation of ascitic fluid should be integrated into the clinical management of moderate to severe AP.Incorporating ascites analysis into standard diagnostic protocols may enhance early risk assessment,inform therapeutic decisions,and ultimately improve patient outcomes.Ascitic fluid should be recognized as a clinically valuable marker and an important source of information in the evolving landscape of AP care.展开更多
BACKGROUND Folate metabolism gene polymorphisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder(ASD).However,most studies have primarily used single candidate gene typing strategies(such as ...BACKGROUND Folate metabolism gene polymorphisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder(ASD).However,most studies have primarily used single candidate gene typing strategies(such as targeted polymerase chain reaction technology),and current findings remain inconsistent.AIM To investigate the association of folate metabolism gene polymorphisms with ASD susceptibility and symptom severity among Chinese children.METHODS Whole-exome sequencing(WES)was conducted to systematically screen for coding region variants of key genes in the folate metabolism pathway among children with ASD,focusing on identifying polymorphisms with high mutation frequencies and potential pathogenic effects.A case-control study was then conducted to explore the association of candidate folate metabolism gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility and severity of ASD.RESULTS WES was performed on 70 children with ASD,and the case-control study included 170 children with ASD and 170 healthy controls.WES revealed that 84.3%(59/70)of children with ASD carried potentially pathogenic variants enriched in folate metabolism pathways.MTHFR C677T and MTRR A66G were significantly associated with an increased risk of ASD in both codominant and dominant models(P<0.05).The dominant model of MTRR A66G was also significantly associated with higher scores in the domains of social relations,body and object use,social and adaptive skills,total scores on the Autism Behavior Checklist,as well as emotional reactivity,nonverbal communication,and activity level on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Most children with ASD carry deleterious variants in folate metabolism-related pathways.MTHFR C677T and MTRR A66G mutations are significantly associated with ASD.展开更多
A recent single-center retrospective study proposed novel combinations of hematological parameters and scoring systems for predicting severe acute pancre-atitis.While these combinations showed promising predictive per...A recent single-center retrospective study proposed novel combinations of hematological parameters and scoring systems for predicting severe acute pancre-atitis.While these combinations showed promising predictive performance,several limitations warrant consideration,including the lack of calibration,the absence of key inflammatory markers such as procalcitonin,and practical challenges in integrating these models into routine clinical workflows.To improve predictive accuracy and clinical applicability,prospective validation and the inclusion of additional variables are recommended.展开更多
In this editorial,we critically evaluate the recent article by Niu et al,which ex-plores the potential of phospholipase D2(PLD2)as a biomarker for stratifying disease severity in acute pancreatitis(AP).AP is a clinica...In this editorial,we critically evaluate the recent article by Niu et al,which ex-plores the potential of phospholipase D2(PLD2)as a biomarker for stratifying disease severity in acute pancreatitis(AP).AP is a clinically heterogeneous inflam-matory condition that requires reliable biomarkers for early and accurate classi-fication of disease severity.PLD2,an essential regulator of neutrophil migration and inflammatory responses,has emerged as a promising candidate.Although current biomarkers such as C-reactive protein and procalcitonin provide general indications of inflammation,they lack specificity regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying AP progression.Recent studies,including the research conducted by Niu et al,suggest an inverse correlation between PLD2 expression and AP severity,offering both diagnostic insights and mechanistic understanding.This editorial critically evaluates the role of PLD2 as a biomarker in the broader context of AP research.Evidence indicates that decreased levels of PLD2 are associated with increased neutrophil chemotaxis and cytokine release,con-tributing to pancreatic and systemic inflammation.However,several challenges remain,including the need for large-scale validation and functional studies to establish causation,and standardization of measurement protocols.Additionally,further investigation into the temporal dynamics of PLD2 expression and its variability across diverse populations is warranted.Looking ahead,PLD2 holds the potential to revolutionize AP management by integrating molecular diagnostics with precision medicine.The utilization of large-scale multi-omics approaches and advancements in diagnostic platforms could position PLD2 as a fundamental biomarker for early diagnosis,prognosis,and potentially therapeutic targeting.While promising,it is crucial to conduct critical evaluations and rigorous validations of PLD2’s role to ensure its efficacy in improving patient outcomes.展开更多
This study examines the interaction between emotional states(anxiety and depression)and tinnitus severity in individuals undergoing a four-month sound therapy intervention.43 participants(28 males and 15 females)of a ...This study examines the interaction between emotional states(anxiety and depression)and tinnitus severity in individuals undergoing a four-month sound therapy intervention.43 participants(28 males and 15 females)of a study on four-month sound therapy of tinnitus were recruited and their tinnitus severity(Tinnitus Handicap Inventory,THI,and Tinnitus Functional Index,TFI)and emotional state(Hospitalary Anxiety and Depression Scale,HADS)were assessed before and after finishing the treatment.The participants,predominantly with moderate tinnitus,showed a significant reduction in tinnitus-related distress,with a mean reduction of approximately 30 points on both the THI and the TFI.Analysis revealed significant gender differences,with women experiencing higher baseline tinnitus distress but higher response to sound therapy.Emotional state assessments revealed moderate levels of anxiety and depression at baseline,which decreased significantly after therapy,particularly in women.Correlational analyses revealed a strong relationship between changes in emotional state and tinnitus severity,with reductions in anxiety and depression associated with improved tinnitus outcomes.The results highlight the complex relationship between emotional well-being and tinnitus severity and underline the potential of sound therapy to alleviate both emotional distress and tinnitus symptoms.展开更多
Aging is one of the greatest risk factors for morbidity caused by the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID19).In older individuals,a dysregulated immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2...Aging is one of the greatest risk factors for morbidity caused by the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID19).In older individuals,a dysregulated immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)infection contributes to disease severity;however,the underlying mechanism remains elusive.In this study,we established an aging mouse model of COVID-19,successfully replicating the development of a relatively severe disease in older adults.Further single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed a distinct immune cell landscape in the infected lungs,accompanied by an over-activated inflammatory response,especially in aging mice.Compared to young mice,aging mice showed extensive neutrophil activation,NETosis,and a dramatic decrease in the number of alveolar macrophages(AMs).Moreover,as important executors of efferocytosis,AMs exhibited a low efferocytotic gene signature and downregulation of multiple efferocytosis receptors in aged mice.Further analysis indicated that the efferocytosis of neutrophils,whether undergoing apoptosis or NETosis,was compromised after SARS-CoV-2 infection.Since efferocytosis is a key process in inflammatory resolution,impaired efferocytosis may contribute to hyperinflammation in aging lungs.Our study reveals the characteristics and role of efferocytosis in aging mice after SARS-CoV-2 infection and provides valuable insights for the potential treatment of COVID-19.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFC2506202,2024YFA1306901)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(YG2024ZD25)+6 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82401752 and 82471396)the Ningbo Medical and Health Brand Discipline(PPXK 2024-07)the Ningbo Clinical Medical Research Centre for Mental Health(2022L002)the Ningbo Municipal Health Commission Municipal Medical Science and Tech-nology Plan Project(2021Y25)the Ningbo Top Medical and Health Research Program(2022030410)Ningbo Municipal Health Science and Technology Program(2022Y23)Three-year Action Plan for Shanghai’s Public Health System Construction(GWVI-2.1.4).
摘要Dear Editor,Non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI)refers to the intentional,self-inflicted damage of body tissues in the absence of suicidal intent and represents a highly prevalent and clinically significant behavioral issue among adolescents[1].
摘要Plant functional traits are key for understanding the adaptive strategies to environments,and fine roots play a crucial role in nutrient acquisition.Examining the variation of functional traits of fine root and soil physicochemical properties,and investigating their coupling relationships and dominating factors,could provide a theoretical foundation for ecological restoration in the burned forest.We established 12 plots within Pinus tabuliformis Carrière forests subjected to light,moderate and severe fire severities.Through detailed analysis of fine roots and soil physicochemical properties,we evaluated the variations and coupling effects in fine root functional traits and soil properties using the Coupling Coordination Degree Model and Partial Least Squares Path Modeling.Our results showed significant differences in the functional traits of fine root and soil physicochemical properties across fire severities(P<0.05).The coupling coordination degrees between fine root functional features and soil physicochemical properties ranged from 0.4 to 0.6,with the following order:unburned,moderate,severe and light severity.Forest fire negatively impacted the coupling coordination degree indirectly,primarily influenced by the direct positive effects of fine root morphological traits(e.g.,specific root length)and soil nutrient properties(e.g.,nitrogen and available phosphorus).The synergistic recovery of fine root-soil systems in Pinus tabuliformis forests was most pronounced following moderate fire severity,showing a medium-level coordination degree.For light-severity fires,enhancing fine root morphological characteristics through soil warming is recommended.In contrast,it is suggested to apply appropriate nitrogen and soil fertilizers for improving soil conditions after severe fire.
摘要Automated grading of dandruff severity is a clinically significant but challenging task due to the inherent ordinal nature of severity levels and the high prevalence of label noise from subjective expert annotations.Standard classification methods fail to address these dual challenges,limiting their real-world performance.In this paper,a novel,three-phase training framework is proposed that learns a robust ordinal classifier directly from noisy labels.The approach synergistically combines a rank-based ordinal regression backbone with a cooperative,semi-supervised learning strategy to dynamically partition the data into clean and noisy subsets.A hybrid training objective is then employed,applying a supervised ordinal loss to the clean set.The noisy set is simultaneously trained using a dualobjective that combines a semi-supervised ordinal loss with a parallel,label-agnostic contrastive loss.This design allows themodel to learn fromthe entire noisy subset while using contrastive learning to mitigate the risk of error propagation frompotentially corrupt supervision.Extensive experiments on a new,large-scale,multi-site clinical dataset validate our approach.Themethod achieves state-of-the-art performance with 80.71%accuracy and a 76.86%F1-score,significantly outperforming existing approaches,including a 2.26%improvement over the strongest baseline method.This work provides not only a robust solution for a practical medical imaging problem but also a generalizable framework for other tasks plagued by noisy ordinal labels.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52302394)the Shanghai Municipality Science and Technology Commission(Grant No.24692106600).
摘要This study investigates the spatial determinants of freight-related injury crashes in Fortaleza,Brazil,focusing on three outcomes:Possible Injury Crashes(PIC),Evident Injury Crashes(EIC),and Fatal Injury Crashes(FIC).A rich urban dataset incorporating land use,freight infrastructure,road design,and traffic characteristics was analyzed across three spatial aggregations:hexagons,aggregated neighborhoods,and census tracts.Two complementary modeling techniques were employed:Zero-Inflated Poisson(ZIP)models were used to account for excessive zeros in crash counts,while Extreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)provided a high-performing machine learning approach capable of capturing nonlinear relationships.XGBoost results show that the density of traffic signals,density of freeway lane mileage,and density of truck volumes are the dominant factors influencing freight-related injury risk across spatial scales.ZIP results highlighted the significant impact of freight proximity(e.g.,distance to ports,airports,and intermodal terminals),infrastructure density(e.g.,traffic signals,freeway lanes),and land-use intensity(e.g.,job density and retail zones)on crash occurrence and severity.To interpret the complex patterns captured by XGBoost,Shapley Additive Explanations(SHAP)analysis was used.SHAP dependence and interaction plots revealed threshold effects and spatial interactions such as increased EIC and FIC risk in areas with high truck exposure and dense signal or freeway infrastructure.Notably,PIC risk was highest close to the airports,especially where primary roads and poles coexisted.The study demonstrates that both linear and nonlinear modeling frameworks are necessary to uncover the layered nature of freight-induced crash risks.Policy implications include optimizing traffic control density,enhancing safety in freight corridors,and prioritizing pedestrian protection near logistics hubs.By integrating statistical and explainable machine learning methods,the study offers actionable insights for data-driven urban safety and mobility planning.
基金supported by the Project of the Ministry of Public Security Science and Technology Program(2025JSYJC18)the Central Universities Basic Research Funds Program of China(2024JKF02ZK12).
摘要An analysis of Beijing urban rail transit emergency data from 2016 to 2018 is conducted to identify the factors influencing emergency severity.A severity probability distribution model is proposed,incorporating seasonal effects,multi-dimensional features(passenger,vehicle,line,environment),random parameters,interaction terms,and weather variables(temperature,humidity,wind speed)to capture severity probability changes driven by seasonally influenced factors.High performance is achieved by the model,with 92.10%accuracy,95.17%sensitivity,and 87.58%specificity.Five key factors—bad weather(correlation=-0.0611,p<0.001),track failure(correlation=-0.0503,p<0.001),signal failure(correlation=-0.0483,p<0.001),urban area(correlation=-0.0441,p<0.001),and vehicle failure(correlation=-0.0435,p<0.001)—are identified,with their interactions amplifying risks,particularly the coupling effect between bad weather and train system failures.Notable seasonal effects are observed:In summer,high temperature and humidity increase vehicle and equipment failures;in autumn,temperature fluctuations raise signaling anomaly risks;in winter,low temperatures elevate track and equipment failure risks;and in spring and winter,windy weather exacerbates risks for suburban elevated lines.This study highlights the need for refined risk identification and response mechanisms at the seasonal and regional levels,such as targeted inspections and weather-triggered controls,to enhance operational safety in urban rail transit under complex weather conditions.
基金Supported by Fujian Provincial Health Technology Project,No.2020QNA012.
摘要BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder(ASD)involves social and neurological impairment,and affected individuals have an elevated risk of bullying.AIM To clarify serum folate(SF)and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)expression in ASD-affected children and evaluate their prediction value for illness severity.METHODS From February 2023 to February 2025,53 ASD-affected children and 50 healthy controls visiting Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital were enrolled as the research and control groups,respectively.SF and BDNF levels were measured in all children.The Childhood Autism Rating Scale(CARS)was used to assess ASD symptom severity.In ASD cases,SF and BDNF expression differences were compared across illness-severity subgroups and before versus after treatment.Pearson r was used to assess correlations between SF/BDNF and CARS in the research group.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were used to assess their predictive value for ASD severity.Univariate and multivariate binary Logistic models were used to identify ASD progression determinants.RESULTS ASD children showed significantly lower SF and higher BDNF higher than controls.Severe cases had lower SF and higher BDNF than mild-to-moderate cases.SF correlated inversely with the CARS score,whereas BDNF correlated positively.For predicting ASD severity,the area under the ROC curve(AUC)of SF and BDNF was 0.700-0.750,and their combined use increased the AUC to 0.823.Both markers were confirmed to be independent determinants of ASD aggravation.CONCLUSION SF is down-regulated and BDNF is up-regulated in ASD-affected children,SF correlates negatively with ASD severity and BDNF correlates positively.Low SF and high BDNF are risk factors for ASD deterioration in children.
摘要BACKGROUND:Rapid identification of patients at risk of clinical deterioration(in-hospital mortality) in emergency settings is essential for timely and appropriate care.Existing prognostic scores,such as the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV(APACHE IV),Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3(SAPS 3),Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA),and National Early Warning Score 2(NEWS 2),have limitations in emergency scenarios,particularly in resource-limited settings.We aimed to develop a simple and efficient tool tailored to the Brazilian healthcare system.METHODS:This retrospective,multicenter,cohort study analyzed data from 50,709 adult patients admitted to 12 hospitals in southern and southeastern Brazil between 2019 and 2020.The BRASIL score(Brazilian Risk Assessment Severity Index and Length of stay) was constructed using demographic and clinical variables available at admission.Logistic regression was used to determine the weight of each variable,and each variable was assigned a point value based on its β-coefficient and clinical relevance,with thresholds defined according to established medical cutoffs and statistical performance.The score's predictive accuracy was validated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC) with comparative analysis against NEWS 2.RESULTS:The BRASIL score,including age,sex,respiratory rate,heart rate,oxygen saturation,blood pressure,and body temperature,was derived through variables independently associated with in-hospital mortality in a multicenter cohort.The total score was stratified into three risk categories — low(0–3 points),moderate(4–7 points),and high(>7 points) — using observed inflection points in mortality distribution to optimize discrimination.This stratification demonstrated a stepwise increase in mortality rates across categories and the discriminatory performance,with an overall AUC of 0.743(95% CI:0.726–0.761).Compared to NEWS 2(AUC 0.697,95% CI:0.683–0.711),the BRASIL score offered superior early risk identification,supporting timely clinical decisionmaking and resource allocation in the emergency setting.CONCLUSION:The BRASIL score is a novel tool for predicting in-hospital mortality in emergency departments.Its predictive performance and ease of use suggest that it has the potential to improve patient outcomes.
摘要In high-altitude basins,snow and glaciers influence precipitation effectiveness by storing winter snowfall and regulate streamflow through delayed meltwater release,leading to distinct seasonal and hydrological drought responses.This study applies an Intensity–Duration–Frequency(IDF)framework to quantify meteorological and hydrological droughts in the Astore Basin,Pakistan using long-term precipitation and streamflow data(1970–2016).The Standardized Precipitation Index(SPI)and Standardized Streamflow Index(SSI)were calculated at 1-,3-,6-,and 12-month time scales to characterize drought severity,duration,and frequency.Frequency analysis was conducted to estimate precipitation and streamflow deficits for return periods ranging from 2 to 100 years and drought durations between 1 and 11 months.Results show that drought severity and duration increase systematically with both time scale and return period.For short-term droughts(SPI-1/SSI-1),deficits are confined to 3 months for a 2-year return period and increase to 5 months for return periods of 5-100 years,with precipitation deficits reaching~66 mm and streamflow deficits~330 m3/sec for extreme events.Medium-term droughts(SPI-3/SSI-3 and SPI-6/SSI-6)exhibit longer durations of 7-9 months for 50-100 year return periods,with cumulative precipitation deficits of~188 mm(SPI-3)and~564 mm(SPI-6),and corresponding streamflow deficits of~1256 m3/sec(SSI-3)and~907 m3/sec(SSI-6).Long-term droughts(SPI-12/SSI-12)represent persistent basin-scale water stress,with durations extending up to 11 months and maximum deficits of~443 mm for precipitation and~1623 m3/sec for streamflow at the 100-year return period.Across all time scales,the highest drought severity occurs during pre-monsoon and winter seasons,reflecting limited precipitation,high agricultural water demand,and delayed hydrological response.These results demonstrate the importance of multi-scale deficit-based IDF analysis for quantifying drought risk in snow-and glacier-fed basins and supporting long-term water resource management.
摘要BACKGROUND Polytrauma is associated with the release of various biomarkers,including interleukin(IL)-6,a proinflammatory cytokine with prognostic value.AIM To evaluate the association between IL-6 measured within the first 24 hours of admission and the injury severity score(ISS)among adult polytrauma patients and to explore the link between early IL-6 levels and in-hospital mortality.METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of articles published between 2004 and 2024 in the OVID EMBASE and PubMed databases.The primary outcomes of interest were ISS and all-cause in-hospital mortality.Heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using the I²statistic.Correlations were performed using Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation coefficients.The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess bias in the included studies.RESULTS A total of 1126 studies were screened,of which 15 were selected,yielding 2106 polytrauma patients.The pooled effect size for the correlation between IL-6 and ISS using the Pearson’s coefficient was 0.49[95%CI:0.36-0.60;I²:72.2%,P(heterogeneity)=0.02],while that for studies using the Spearman’s coefficient was 0.50[95%CI:0.41-0.58;I²:33.2%,P(heterogeneity)=0.18].Six studies indicated that IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in non-survivors compared with survivors.CONCLUSION Among polytrauma patients,elevated IL-6 levels within the first 24 hours of admission are associated with higher rates of severe injury and in-hospital mortality.Future research should investigate how early IL-6 levels can be used with other biomarkers to predict injury severity and worse outcomes.Additionally,larger-scale studies should be conducted to assess the tool's validity across a variety of populations.
摘要The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic placed unprecedented strain on emergency departments(ED),demanding rapid,reliable,and widely accessible tools to guide early clinical decision-making.While computed tomography offers high sensitivity for detecting pulmonary involvement,its routine use is limited by cost,logistics,and patient volume.In this context,chest radiography despite its lower sensitivity regains relevance when combined with structured severity scoring systems.Mohammed et al published a study in the World Journal of Critical Care Medicine provides timely and pragmatic evidence on the clinical utility of two established chest X-ray–based scores,the Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema and the BRIXIA score,in predicting oxygen support requirements in COVID-19 patients.By correlating radiographic severity with the need for escalating oxygen delivery devices,the authors demonstrate that higher scores reliably identify patients likely to require advanced respiratory support in the ED.Importantly,the study highlights that these scores perform best in predicting higher levels of support,rather than excluding mild disease,underscoring their value in triage and resource allocation.A notable strength of this work is the rigorous assessment of inter-and intra-rater reliability following structured clinician training,confirming that both scores can be applied consistently across specialties.Although predictive accuracy diminishes later during hospitalization reflecting the multifactorial nature of clinical deterioration,the findings reinforce chest radiography as a rapid,low-cost,and globally available prognostic tool.This letter underscores how standardized chest X-ray scorings can meaningfully inform frontline decisions during respiratory pandemics and beyond.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81872720and the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission,No.2023ZZ02027the National Clinical Key Specialty Construction Project of China,No.Z155080000004.
摘要BACKGROUND Adolescent major depressive disorder(MDD)imposes an increasingly severe global health burden.Current diagnosis relies predominantly on subjective symptom reporting.Adolescents exhibit a unique immunobiological landscape,characterized by immune signatures that differ from those of adults.This feature may enable development of an immunopsychiatric framework for adolescent depression.AIM To investigate whether routinely measured peripheral immune parameters could both identify depression and reflect its severity in treatment-naive adolescents.METHODS We employed a two-stage,multicenter design.In stage I,a cross-sectional sample of 2115 first-episode,drug-naive adolescents with MDD was recruited from three regional centers in China.Associations between peripheral immune parameters and derived ratios with depression severity were assessed by the Self-Rating Depression Scale,with sex-stratified analyses.In stage II,a case-control study enrolled 41 adolescents with MDD and 41 controls.Multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed to evaluate the discriminatory capacity of candidate immune indicators.RESULTS Compared with healthy peers,adolescents with MDD had significantly lower lymphocyte counts[odds ratio(OR)=0.27,95%confidence interval(CI):0.13-0.57]and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio(LMR;OR=0.72,95%CI:0.56-0.92).Paradoxically,within the MDD group,higher lymphocyte count(OR=1.10,95%CI:1.01-1.22)and LMR(OR=1.06,95%CI:1.01-1.13)were independently associated with greater depression severity,an effect most accentuated in female participants(OR=1.17,95%CI:1.01-1.35).receiver operating characteristic analyses confirmed moderate discriminative accuracy for lymphocyte count[area under the curve(AUC)=0.76,95%CI:0.66-0.87]and LMR(AUC=0.70,95%CI:0.59-0.81).A composite model integrating age,sex,and key immune parameters achieved good discrimination(bootstrap-corrected AUC=0.79,95%CI:0.73-0.82).CONCLUSION Our findings reveal a bidirectional immunological pattern in adolescent MDD:Reduced lymphocyte count supports diagnostic identification,while elevated levels correlate with greater illness severity.These results support a stage-dependent immunopsychiatric model and lend support to precision mental health strategies in youth.
摘要BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis(AP)is an emergency gastrointestinal disease that requires immediate diagnosis and urgent clinical treatment.An accurate assessment and precise staging of severity are essential in initial intensive therapy.AIM To explore the prognostic value of inflammatory markers and several scoring systems[Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II,the bedside index of severity in AP(BISAP),Ranson’s score,the computed tomography severity index(CTSI)and sequential organ failure assessment]in severity stratification of earlyphase AP.METHODS A total of 463 patients with AP admitted to our hospital between 1 January 2021 and 30 June 2024 were retrospectively enrolled in this study.Inflammation marker and scoring system levels were calculated and compared between different severity groups.Relationships between severity and several predictors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.Predictive ability was estimated using receiver operating characteristic curves.RESULTS Of the 463 patients,50(10.80%)were classified as having severe AP(SAP).The results revealed that the white cell count significantly increased,whereas the prognostic nutritional index measured within 48 hours(PNI48)and calcium(Ca2+)were decreased as the severity of AP increased(P<0.001).According to multivariate logistic regression,C-reactive protein measured within 48 hours(CRP48),Ca2+levels,and PNI48 were independent risk factors for predicting SAP.The area under the curve(AUC)values for the CRP48,Ca2+,PNI48,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II,sequential organ failure assessment,BISAP,CTSI,and Ranson scores for the prediction of SAP were 0.802,0.736,0.871,0.799,0.783,0.895,0.931 and 0.914,respectively.The AUC for the combined CRP48+Ca2++PNI48 model was 0.892.The combination of PNI48 and Ranson achieved an AUC of 0.936.CONCLUSION Independent risk factors for developing SAP include CRP48,Ca2+,and PNI48.CTSI,BISAP,and the combination of PNI48 and the Ranson score can act as reliable predictors of SAP.
基金jointly General Research Fund(17121619)of the Research Grant Council of Hong KongGuangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2024A1515010104 and 2023A1515220095)Scientific Research Foundation of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital(KYQD202100X)。
摘要Fibrotic remodeling of nucleus pulposus(NP)leads to structural and mechanical anomalies of intervertebral discs that prone to degeneration,leading to low back pain incidence and disability.Emergence of fibroblastic cells in disc degeneration has been reported,yet their nature and origin remain elusive.In this study,we performed an integrative analysis of multiple single-cell RNA sequencing datasets to interrogate the cellular heterogeneity and fibroblast-like entities in degenerative human NP specimens.We found that disc degeneration severity is associated with an enrichment of fibrocyte phenotype,characterized by CD45 and collagen I dual positivity,and expression of myofibroblast markerα-smooth muscle actin.Refined clustering and classification distinguished the fibrocyte-like populations as subtypes in the NP cells-and immunocytes-clusters,expressing disc degeneration markers HTRA1 and ANGPTL4 and genes related to response to TGF-β.In injury-induced mouse disc degeneration model,fibrocytes were found recruited into the NP undergoing fibrosis and adopted a myofibroblast phenotype.Depleting the fibrocytes in CD11b-DTR mice in which myeloid-derived lineages were ablated by diphtheria toxin could markedly attenuate fibrous modeling and myofibroblast formation in the NP of the degenerative discs,and prevent disc height loss and histomorphological abnormalities.Marker analysis supports that disc degeneration progression is dependent on a function of CD45+COL1A1+andαSMA+cells.Our findings reveal that myeloid-derived fibrocytes play a pivotal role in NP fibrosis and may therefore be a target for modifying disc degeneration and promoting its repair.
基金supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFA1301001)the Natural Science Founda-tion of China(82170668)+1 种基金the Sino-German Center for Research Promotion(GZ1546)the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(2019-I2M-5-045).
摘要Background:Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a global pandemic with high mortality,and the treatment options for the severe patients remain limited.Previous studies reported the altered gut mi-crobiota in severe COVID-19.But there are no comprehensive data on the role of microbial metabolites in COVID-19 patients.Methods:We identified 153 serum microbial metabolites and assessed the changes in 72 COVID-19 pa-tients upon admission and one-month after their discharge,comparing these changes to those in 133 healthy control individuals from the outpatient department during the same period.Results:Our study revealed that microbial metabolites varied across different stages and severity of COVID-19 patients.These altered microbial metabolites included tryptophan,bile acids,fatty acids,amino acids,vitamins and those containing benzene.A total of 13 distinct microbial metabolites were identi-fied in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls.Notably,correlations were found among these disrupted metabolites and organ injury and inflammatory responses related to COVID-19.Furthermore,these metabolites did not restore to the normal levels one month after discharge.Importantly,two mi-crobial metabolites were the core microbial metabolites related to the severity of COVID-19 patients.Conclusions:The microbial metabolites were altered in the acute and recovery stage,correlating with dis-ease severity of COVID-19.These results indicated the important role of gut microbiota in the progression of COVID-19,and facilitated the potential therapeutic microbial target for severe COVID-19 patients.
摘要Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a complex and potentially life-threatening inflammatory condition with a highly variable clinical course,ranging from mild,selflimiting episodes to severe necrotizing forms.Among its common complications ascites has traditionally been viewed as a passive byproduct of peritoneal inflammation and enzymatic leakage with limited diagnostic or prognostic utility.However,growing evidence challenges this perspective,suggesting that ascitic fluid in AP represents a dynamic and clinically meaningful component of disease progression.In this editorial we reflected on the findings presented by Rao et al,who highlighted the diagnostic,prognostic,and therapeutic significance of ascitic fluid in AP.Easily accessible markers such as lactate dehydrogenase may provide early prognostic insight while emerging molecular biomarkers and cytokine pro-files offer promise for more precise risk stratification and individualized therapy.We argue that the systematic evaluation of ascitic fluid should be integrated into the clinical management of moderate to severe AP.Incorporating ascites analysis into standard diagnostic protocols may enhance early risk assessment,inform therapeutic decisions,and ultimately improve patient outcomes.Ascitic fluid should be recognized as a clinically valuable marker and an important source of information in the evolving landscape of AP care.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China,No.2024YFC2707801the Science and Technology Innovation Commission of Shenzhen,No.JCYJ20230807143800002.
摘要BACKGROUND Folate metabolism gene polymorphisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder(ASD).However,most studies have primarily used single candidate gene typing strategies(such as targeted polymerase chain reaction technology),and current findings remain inconsistent.AIM To investigate the association of folate metabolism gene polymorphisms with ASD susceptibility and symptom severity among Chinese children.METHODS Whole-exome sequencing(WES)was conducted to systematically screen for coding region variants of key genes in the folate metabolism pathway among children with ASD,focusing on identifying polymorphisms with high mutation frequencies and potential pathogenic effects.A case-control study was then conducted to explore the association of candidate folate metabolism gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility and severity of ASD.RESULTS WES was performed on 70 children with ASD,and the case-control study included 170 children with ASD and 170 healthy controls.WES revealed that 84.3%(59/70)of children with ASD carried potentially pathogenic variants enriched in folate metabolism pathways.MTHFR C677T and MTRR A66G were significantly associated with an increased risk of ASD in both codominant and dominant models(P<0.05).The dominant model of MTRR A66G was also significantly associated with higher scores in the domains of social relations,body and object use,social and adaptive skills,total scores on the Autism Behavior Checklist,as well as emotional reactivity,nonverbal communication,and activity level on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Most children with ASD carry deleterious variants in folate metabolism-related pathways.MTHFR C677T and MTRR A66G mutations are significantly associated with ASD.
摘要A recent single-center retrospective study proposed novel combinations of hematological parameters and scoring systems for predicting severe acute pancre-atitis.While these combinations showed promising predictive performance,several limitations warrant consideration,including the lack of calibration,the absence of key inflammatory markers such as procalcitonin,and practical challenges in integrating these models into routine clinical workflows.To improve predictive accuracy and clinical applicability,prospective validation and the inclusion of additional variables are recommended.
基金Supported by National Natural Sciences Foundation of China,No.82301700Liaoning Province Natural Science Foundation Project,No.2024-MS-157+2 种基金Youth Talent Cultivation Fund Key Project of Dalian Medical UniversityScientific Research Projects from Wuhan Municipal Health Commission,No.WX23Z26Science and Technology of Liaoning Province,No.2023-MS-266.
摘要In this editorial,we critically evaluate the recent article by Niu et al,which ex-plores the potential of phospholipase D2(PLD2)as a biomarker for stratifying disease severity in acute pancreatitis(AP).AP is a clinically heterogeneous inflam-matory condition that requires reliable biomarkers for early and accurate classi-fication of disease severity.PLD2,an essential regulator of neutrophil migration and inflammatory responses,has emerged as a promising candidate.Although current biomarkers such as C-reactive protein and procalcitonin provide general indications of inflammation,they lack specificity regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying AP progression.Recent studies,including the research conducted by Niu et al,suggest an inverse correlation between PLD2 expression and AP severity,offering both diagnostic insights and mechanistic understanding.This editorial critically evaluates the role of PLD2 as a biomarker in the broader context of AP research.Evidence indicates that decreased levels of PLD2 are associated with increased neutrophil chemotaxis and cytokine release,con-tributing to pancreatic and systemic inflammation.However,several challenges remain,including the need for large-scale validation and functional studies to establish causation,and standardization of measurement protocols.Additionally,further investigation into the temporal dynamics of PLD2 expression and its variability across diverse populations is warranted.Looking ahead,PLD2 holds the potential to revolutionize AP management by integrating molecular diagnostics with precision medicine.The utilization of large-scale multi-omics approaches and advancements in diagnostic platforms could position PLD2 as a fundamental biomarker for early diagnosis,prognosis,and potentially therapeutic targeting.While promising,it is crucial to conduct critical evaluations and rigorous validations of PLD2’s role to ensure its efficacy in improving patient outcomes.
摘要This study examines the interaction between emotional states(anxiety and depression)and tinnitus severity in individuals undergoing a four-month sound therapy intervention.43 participants(28 males and 15 females)of a study on four-month sound therapy of tinnitus were recruited and their tinnitus severity(Tinnitus Handicap Inventory,THI,and Tinnitus Functional Index,TFI)and emotional state(Hospitalary Anxiety and Depression Scale,HADS)were assessed before and after finishing the treatment.The participants,predominantly with moderate tinnitus,showed a significant reduction in tinnitus-related distress,with a mean reduction of approximately 30 points on both the THI and the TFI.Analysis revealed significant gender differences,with women experiencing higher baseline tinnitus distress but higher response to sound therapy.Emotional state assessments revealed moderate levels of anxiety and depression at baseline,which decreased significantly after therapy,particularly in women.Correlational analyses revealed a strong relationship between changes in emotional state and tinnitus severity,with reductions in anxiety and depression associated with improved tinnitus outcomes.The results highlight the complex relationship between emotional well-being and tinnitus severity and underline the potential of sound therapy to alleviate both emotional distress and tinnitus symptoms.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(NKPs)(2022YFC2604101).
摘要Aging is one of the greatest risk factors for morbidity caused by the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID19).In older individuals,a dysregulated immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)infection contributes to disease severity;however,the underlying mechanism remains elusive.In this study,we established an aging mouse model of COVID-19,successfully replicating the development of a relatively severe disease in older adults.Further single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed a distinct immune cell landscape in the infected lungs,accompanied by an over-activated inflammatory response,especially in aging mice.Compared to young mice,aging mice showed extensive neutrophil activation,NETosis,and a dramatic decrease in the number of alveolar macrophages(AMs).Moreover,as important executors of efferocytosis,AMs exhibited a low efferocytotic gene signature and downregulation of multiple efferocytosis receptors in aged mice.Further analysis indicated that the efferocytosis of neutrophils,whether undergoing apoptosis or NETosis,was compromised after SARS-CoV-2 infection.Since efferocytosis is a key process in inflammatory resolution,impaired efferocytosis may contribute to hyperinflammation in aging lungs.Our study reveals the characteristics and role of efferocytosis in aging mice after SARS-CoV-2 infection and provides valuable insights for the potential treatment of COVID-19.