From prediction to prevention:Machine learning revolutionizes hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence monitoring

In this editorial,we comment on the article by Zhang et al entitled Development of a machine learning-based model for predicting the risk of early postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),which is characterized by high incidence and mortality rates,remains a major global health challenge primarily due to the critical issue of postoperative recurrence.Early recurrence,defined as recurrence that occurs within 2 years posttreatment,is linked to the hidden spread of the primary tumor and significantly impacts patient survival.Traditional predictive factors,including both patient-and treatment-related factors,have limited predictive ability with respect to HCC recurrence.The integration of machine learning algorithms is fueled by the exponential growth of computational power and has revolutionized HCC research.The study by Zhang et al demonstrated the use of a groundbreaking preoperative prediction model for early postoperative HCC recurrence.Challenges persist,including sample size constraints,issues with handling data,and the need for further validation and interpretability.This study emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts,multicenter studies and comparative analyses to validate and refine the model.Overcoming these challenges and exploring innovative approaches,such as multi-omics integration,will enhance personalized oncology care.This study marks a significant stride toward precise,efficient,and personalized oncology practices,thus offering hope for improved patient outcomes in the field of HCC treatment.

In situ injectable hydrogel encapsulating Mn/NO-based immune nano-activator for prevention of postoperative tumor recurrence

Postoperative tumor recurrence remains a predominant cause of treatment failure. In this study, we developed an in situ injectable hydrogel, termed MPB-NO@DOX + ATRA gel, which was locally formed within the tumor resection cavity. The MPB-NO@DOX + ATRA gel was fabricated by mixing a thrombin solution, a fibrinogen solution containing all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), and a Mn/NO-based immune nano-activator termed MPB-NO@DOX. ATRA promoted the differentiation of cancer stem cells, inhibited cancer cell migration, and affected the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages. The outer MnO2 shell disintegrated due to its reaction with glutathione and hydrogen peroxide in the cytoplasm to release Mn2+ and produce O2, resulting in the release of doxorubicin (DOX). The released DOX entered the nucleus and destroyed DNA, and the fragmented DNA cooperated with Mn2+ to activate the cGAS-STING pathway and stimulate an anti-tumor immune response. In addition, when MPB-NO@DOX was exposed to 808 nm laser irradiation, the Fe-NO bond was broken to release NO, which downregulated the expression of PD-L1 on the surface of tumor cells and reversed the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In conclusion, the MPB-NO@DOX + ATRA gel exhibited excellent anti-tumor efficacy. The results of this study demonstrated the great potential of in situ injectable hydrogels in preventing postoperative tumor recurrence.

The value of postoperative hepatic regional chemotherapy in prevention of recurrence after radical resection of primary liver cancer

INTRODUCTIONIn China,primary liver cancer (PLC) ranks secondin cancer mortality since the 1990s.In the field ofPLC treatment,surgical resection remains the best,which includes large PLC resection,small PLCresection,re-resection of subclinical recurrence,aswell as cytoreduction and sequential resection forunresectable PLC.However,recurrence

Beyond dentistry:could prevention and screening for neurodegenerative diseases start in the dental office?

The differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases is complex and relies on clinical assessment,biomarker levels in cerebrospinal fluid,neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessment.The efforts of the scientific community are focused on two aspects:a)the discovery of minimally invasive biomarkers;b)the discovery of early biomarkers that can predict the progression to clinical disease in the presymptomatic stage of a disease.Considering the impact of the number of patients affected by chronic neurodegenerative diseases on public health expenditures,early diagnosis seems to be a primary need of our society.

Cervical cancer prevention in China: where are we now, and what's next?

Cervical cancer(CC) epidemiology CC, the fourth most frequently diagnosed malignancy in women worldwide, is a major global health challenge, particularly in low-resource regions. Approximately 88.1% of the 604,000 CC new cases occurred in low-and middle-income countries in 2020, and more than 90% of the 342,000 CC deaths occurred in low-and middle-income countries in 2020~1.

Community-based prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases

The Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China(2022)intricate landscape of cardiovascular health in China.This is the third section of the report with a specific focus on community-based prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases(CVD).This section of the report underscores the importance of initiatives outlined in the"Healthy China 2030 Plan,"emphasizing the comprehensive prevention and control strategy for chronic diseases.A key aspect of this plan involves the establishment of national demonstration areas aimed at comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases.By 2020,488 such areas had been set up across China,surpassing the initial target and covering a significant proportion of counties and districts.The report highlights the successful implementation of these strategies in Lishan district,Anshan city,where demonstration areas for comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases were launched in 2013.Over the course of seven years,the number of healthy units increased substantially,leading to improvements in managing risk factors for CVD among residents.Significant reductions in prevalence rates of overweight,obesity,smoking,passive smoking,and drinking were observed,along with the development of healthier behaviors among residents.Similarly,Qiaokou district in Wuhan City,designated as a national demonstration area in 2014,implemented comprehensive public health promotion initiatives.Notably,special clinics for hypertension intervention were established,contributing to an increase in self-reported rates of hypertension,a slight decrease in prevalence,and a remarkable improvement in the control rate among treated patients.Overall,these efforts underscore the effectiveness of community-based approaches in driving positive health outcomes and advancing the comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases,particularly cardiovascular diseases,in China.

Development and validation of a nomogram model for predicting the risk of gallstone recurrence after gallbladder-preserving surgery

Background:The high incidence of gallstone recurrence was a major concern for laparoscopic gallbladderpreserving surgery.This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for gallstone recurrence after gallbladder-preserving surgery and to establish an individualized nomogram model to predict the risk of gallstone recurrence.Methods:The clinicopathological and follow-up data of 183 patients who were initially diagnosed with gallstones and treated with gallbladder-preserving surgery at our hospital from January 2012 to January 2019 were retrospectively collected.The independent predictive factors for gallstone recurrence following gallbladder-preserving surgery were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis.A nomogram model for the prediction of gallstone recurrence was constructed based on the selected variables.The C-index,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and calibration curve were used to evaluate the predictive power of the nomogram model for gallstone recurrence.Results:During the follow-up period,a total of 65 patients experienced gallstone recurrence,and the recurrence rate was 35.5%.Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the course of gallstones>2 years[odds ratio(OR)=2.567,95%confidence interval(CI):1.270-5.187,P=0.009],symptomatic gallstones(OR=2.589,95%CI:1.059-6.329,P=0.037),multiple gallstones(OR=2.436,95%CI:1.133-5.237,P=0.023),history of acute cholecystitis(OR=2.778,95%CI:1.178-6.549,P=0.020)and a greasy diet(OR=2.319,95%CI:1.186-4.535,P=0.014)were independent risk factors for gallstone recurrence after gallbladder-preserving surgery.A nomogram model for predicting the recurrence of gallstones was established based on the above five variables.The results showed that the C-index of the nomogram model was 0.692,suggesting it was valuable to predict gallstone recurrence.Moreover,the calibration curve showed good consistency between the predicted probability and actual probability.Conclusions:The nomogram model for the prediction of gallstone recurrence might help clinicians develop a proper treatment strategy for patients with gallstones.Gallbladder-preserving surgery should be cautiously considered for patients with high recurrence risks.

Dual-wavelength pumped latticed Fermi-Pasta-Ulam recurrences in nonlinear Schrödinger equation

We show that the nonlinear stage of the dual-wavelength pumped modulation instability(MI)in nonlinear Schrödinger equation(NLSE)can be effectively analyzed by mode truncation methods.The resulting complicated heteroclinic structure of instability unveils all possible dynamic trajectories of nonlinear waves.Significantly,the latticed-Fermi-Pasta-Ulam recurrences on the modulated-wave background in NLSE are also investigated and their dynamic trajectories run along the Hamiltonian contours of the heteroclinic structure.It is demonstrated that there has much richer dynamic behavior,in contrast to the nonlinear waves reported before.This novel nonlinear wave promises to inject new vitality into the study of MI.

Cholera Recurrence within Benin Littoral County: Analysis of Epidemics from 2008, 2016 to 2023

Introduction: Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by the bacillus Vibrio cholerae, which can be fatal in a few hours if left untreated. It rages in endemic-epidemic mode in several countries, including Benin. Despite being the economic capital, the largest city in Benin and the most urbanized municipality in the country, the Littoral County, confounded with the city of Cotonou, is subject to recurrent epidemics. This paper aims to analyze successive cholera epidemics with a view of highlighting the factors contributing to this recurrence. Methods: A secondary analysis was done of the cholera-related databases of the County health office from 2016 to 2023, and its Situation Report No. 79 of December 7th, 2016, to describe the 2016 epidemic. Database data were analyzed in Excel. Results: Similarly to 2008, the 2016 cholera epidemic in Cotonou, which recorded 519 cases and 07 deaths, i.e. a case-fatality rate of 1.35%, spread to the town and six neighboring municipalities. The municipality of So-Ava, home to the index case, had the highest overall attack rate. The two epidemics share the same period of severity. Both epidemic and endemic cases are concentrated in the first seven boroughs of Cotonou, located on the lagoon shore, with low levels of hygiene and sanitation and a poor supply of drinking water. Conclusion: Low levels of hygiene, sanitation and drinking water supply all play a part in the recurrence of cholera epidemics. Sanitation work. Undertaken by the Beninese government is a ray of hope for improving this situation. Meanwhile, public awareness of hygiene measures must continue.

Practice of Infection Prevention and Control Strategies in Risk Departments during the COVID-19 Epidemic

Objective: To explore the practice and application of infection prevention and control strategies in risk departments during the COVID-19 epidemic, and to formulate the infection prevention and control measures to provide advice and guidance in risk departments. Methods: According to the latest plan of diagnosis and treatment, prevention and control issued by the National Health Commission, expert advice and consensus, combined with the actual situation in our hospital, a series of infection prevention and control measures of COVID-19 in risk department was formulated. Results: During the epidemic period, the prevention and control measures of nine risk departments including emergency operation, anesthesiology, endoscopy center, blood purification center, otolaryngology, stomatology, medical imaging department, medical cosmetology department and pulmonary function room were established from six aspects, including pre-examination and screening, medical technology control, personnel management, personal protection, environmental disinfection, medical waste disposal, etc. Conclusion: During the epidemic period, the infection prevention and control strategy of risk departments is one of the key links to control the spread of the epidemic, and risk departments must pay attention to and strictly implement various infection prevention and control measures.

Assessment of Breast Cancer Prevention Practices among Women Attending Primary Health Care in Abha City, Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with breast cancer being the most common (2.26 million new cases and 685,000 deaths). In Saudi Arabia, breast cancer ranked the first among females in 2014, accounting for 15.9% of all cancers reported among Saudi nationals and 28.7% of all cancers reported among females of all ages. Early detection of breast cancer could decrease the risks, have a better prognosis, and have better outcomes/more successful treatments. Prevalence of breast cancer reached more than 25% of all diagnosed cancer in the kingdom among women. Aim: This study aims to assess the knowledge and performance of women attending primary care centers about breast self-examination and mammogram screening for prevention and early detection of breast cancer in Abha city primary healthcare centers, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Research Method: cross sectional design was conducted by using questionnaire, which was distributed to primary care center nurses. The collected data was statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 25. Results: The study found that participants had poor awareness and knowledge about breast self-examination, risk factors for breast cancer, and trends and practices in early diagnosis of breast cancer. Conclusion and Recommendations: It recommends increasing awareness campaigns and providing educational programs to improve knowledge and practices.

Recent advances in promising drugs for primary prevention of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding with cirrhotic portal hypertension

Background:Gastroesophageal variceal bleeding is one of the most severe complications of patients with cirrhosis.Although primary prevention drugs,including non-selectiveβ-blockers,have effectively reduced the incidence of bleeding,their efficacy is limited due to side effects and related contraindications.With recent advances in precision medicine,precise drug treatment provides better treatment efficacy.Data sources:Literature search was conducted in PubMed,MEDLINE and Web of Science for relevant articles published up to May 2022.Information on clinical trials was obtained from https://clinicaltrials.gov/and http://www.chictr.org.cn/.Results:The in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis and advances of portal hypertension has enabled the discovery of multiple molecular targets for promising drugs.According to the site of action,these drugs could be classified into four classes:intrahepatic,extrahepatic,both intrahepatic and extrahepatic targets and others.All these classes of drugs offer advantages over traditional treatments in prevention of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.Conclusions:This review classified and summarized the promising drugs,which prevent gastroesophageal variceal bleeding by targeting specific markers of pathogenesis of portal hypertension,demonstrating the significance of using the precision medicine strategy to discover and develop promising drugs for the primary prevention of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.

Leveraging machine learning for early recurrence prediction in hepatocellular carcinoma:A step towards precision medicine

The high rate of early recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)post curative surgical intervention poses a substantial clinical hurdle,impacting patient outcomes and complicating postoperative management.The advent of machine learning provides a unique opportunity to harness vast datasets,identifying subtle patterns and factors that elude conventional prognostic methods.Machine learning models,equipped with the ability to analyse intricate relationships within datasets,have shown promise in predicting outcomes in various medical disciplines.In the context of HCC,the application of machine learning to predict early recurrence holds potential for personalized postoperative care strategies.This editorial comments on the study carried out exploring the merits and efficacy of random survival forests(RSF)in identifying significant risk factors for recurrence,stratifying patients at low and high risk of HCC recurrence and comparing this to traditional COX proportional hazard models(CPH).In doing so,the study demonstrated that the RSF models are superior to traditional CPH models in predicting recurrence of HCC and represent a giant leap towards precision medicine.

Early gastric cancer recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection:Not to be ignored!

This editorial comments on the article“Efficacy of multi-slice spiral computed tomography in evaluating gastric cancer recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection”.We focus on the importance of paying more attention to postendoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)gastric cancer recurrence in patients with early gastric cancer(EGC)and how to manage it effectively.ESD has been a wellknown treatment and the mainstay for EGC,with the advantages of less invasion and fewer complications when compared with traditional surgical procedures.Despite a lower local recurrence rate after ESD,the problem of postoperative recurrence in patients with EGC has become increasingly non-ignorable with the global popularization of ESD technology and the increasing number of post-ESD patients.

Prevention and Control Strategies of Nosocomial Infection and Effectiveness Evaluation in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital during the Epidemic of COVID-19

Objective: To evaluate the role of prevention and control strategies for nosocomial infection in a tertiary teaching hospital during the sudden outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: The hospital initiated an emergency plan involving multi-departmental defense and control. It adopted a series of nosocomial infection prevention and control measures, including strengthening pre-examination and triage, optimizing the consultation process, improving the hospital’s architectural composition, implementing graded risk management, enhancing personal protection, and implementing staff training and supervision. Descriptive research was used to evaluate the short-term effects of these in-hospital prevention and control strategies. The analysis compared changes in related evaluation indicators between January 24, 2020 and February 12, 2020 (Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve 2020 to lunar January 19) and the corresponding lunar period of the previous year. Results: Compared to the same period last year, the outpatient fever rate increased by 1.85-fold (P P Conclusion: The nosocomial infection prevention and control strategies implemented during this specific period improved the detection and control abilities for the COVID-19 source of infection and enhanced the compliance with measures. This likely contributed significantly to avoiding the occurrence of nosocomial infection.

Low skeletal muscle mass and high visceral adiposity are associated with recurrence of acute cholecystitis after conservative management:A propensity score-matched cohort study

Background:Recurrent acute cholecystitis(RAC)can occur after non-surgical treatment for acute cholecystitis(AC),and can be more severe in comparison to the first episode of AC.Low skeletal muscle mass or adiposity have various effects in several diseases.We aimed to clarify the relationship between RAC and body parameters.Methods:Patients with AC who were treated at our hospital between January 2011 and March 2022 were enrolled.The psoas muscle mass and adipose tissue area at the third lumbar level were measured using computed tomography at the first episode of AC.The areas were divided by height to obtain the psoas muscle mass index(PMI)and subcutaneous/visceral adipose tissue index(SATI/VATI).According to median VATI,SATI and PMI values by sex,patients were divided into the high and low PMI groups.We performed propensity score matching to eliminate the baseline differences between the high PMI and low PMI groups and analyzed the cumulative incidence and predictors of RAC.Results:The entire cohort was divided into the high PMI(n=81)and low PMI(n=80)groups.In the propensity score-matched cohort there were 57 patients in each group.In Kaplan-Meier analysis,the low PMI group and the high VATI group had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of RAC than their counterparts(log-rank P=0.001 and 0.015,respectively).In a multivariate Cox regression analysis,the hazard ratios of low PMI and low VATI for RAC were 5.250(95%confidence interval 1.083-25.450,P=0.039)and 0.158(95%confidence interval:0.026-0.937,P=0.042),respectively.Conclusions:Low skeletal muscle mass and high visceral adiposity were independent risk factors for RAC.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae prevents postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease modeled by ileocecal resection in HLA-B27 transgenic rats

BACKGROUND Postoperative recurrence(POR)after ileocecal resection(ICR)affects most Crohn's disease patients within 3-5 years after surgery.Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli(AIEC)typified by the LF82 strain are pathobionts that are frequently detected in POR of Crohn's disease and have a potential role in the early stages of the disease pathogenesis.Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 is a probiotic yeast reported to inhibit AIEC adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells and to favor their elimination from the gut.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of CNCM I-3856 in preventing POR induced by LF82 in an HLA-B27 transgenic(TgB27)rat model.METHODS Sixty-four rats[strain F344,38 TgB27,26 control non-Tg(nTg)]underwent an ICR at the 12th wk(W12)of life and were sacrificed at the 18th wk(W18)of life.TgB27 rats were challenged daily with oral administration of LF82(109 colony forming units(CFUs)/day(d),n=8),PBS(n=5),CNCM I-3856(109 CFUs/d,n=7)or a combination of LF82 and CNCM I-3856(n=18).nTg rats receiving LF82(n=5),PBS(n=5),CNCM I-3856(n=7)or CNCM I-3856 and LF82(n=9)under the same conditions were used as controls.POR was analyzed using macroscopic(from 0 to 4)and histologic(from 0 to 6)scores.Luminal LF82 quantifications were performed weekly for each animal.Adherent LF82 and inflammatory/regulatory cytokines were quantified in biopsies at W12 and W18.Data are expressed as the median with the interquartile range.RESULTS nTg animals did not develop POR.A total of 7/8(87%)of the TgB27 rats receiving LF82 alone had POR(macroscopic score≥2),which was significantly prevented by CNCM I-3856 administration[6/18(33%)TgB27 rats,P=0.01].Macroscopic lesions were located 2 cm above the anastomosis in the TgB27 rats receiving LF82 alone and consisted of ulcerations with a score of 3.5(2-4).Seven out of 18 TgB27 rats(39%)receiving CNCM I-3856 and LF82 had no macroscopic lesions.Compared to untreated TgB27 animals receiving LF82 alone,coadministration of CNCM I-3856 and LF82 significantly reduced the macroscopic[3.5(2-4)vs 1(0-3),P=0.002]and histological lesions by more than 50%[4.5(3.3-5.8)vs 2(1.3-3),P=0.003].The levels of adherent LF82 were correlated with anastomotic macroscopic scores in TgB27 rats(r=0.49,P=0.006),with a higher risk of POR in animals having high levels of luminal LF82(71.4%vs 25%,P=0.02).Administration of CNCM I-3856 significantly reduced the levels of luminal and adherent LF82,increased the production of interleukin(IL)-10 and decreased the production of IL-23 and IL-17 in TgB27 rats.CONCLUSION In a reliable model of POR induced by LF82 in TgB27 rats,CNCM I-3856 prevents macroscopic POR by decreasing LF82 infection and gut inflammation.

Identification of Early Warning Signals of Infectious Diseases in Hospitals by Integrating Clinical Treatment and Disease Prevention

The global incidence of infectious diseases has increased in recent years,posing a significant threat to human health.Hospitals typically serve as frontline institutions for detecting infectious diseases.However,accurately identifying warning signals of infectious diseases in a timely manner,especially emerging infectious diseases,can be challenging.Consequently,there is a pressing need to integrate treatment and disease prevention data to conduct comprehensive analyses aimed at preventing and controlling infectious diseases within hospitals.This paper examines the role of medical data in the early identification of infectious diseases,explores early warning technologies for infectious disease recognition,and assesses monitoring and early warning mechanisms for infectious diseases.We propose that hospitals adopt novel multidimensional early warning technologies to mine and analyze medical data from various systems,in compliance with national strategies to integrate clinical treatment and disease prevention.Furthermore,hospitals should establish institution-specific,clinical-based early warning models for infectious diseases to actively monitor early signals and enhance preparedness for infectious disease prevention and control.

Pre-operative enhanced magnetic resonance imaging combined with clinical features predict early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radical resection

BACKGROUND Indentifying predictive factors for postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has great significance for patient prognosis.AIM To explore the value of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid(Gd-EOB-DTPA)enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)combined with clinical features in predicting early recurrence of HCC after resection.METHODS A total of 161 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC were enrolled.The patients were divided into early recurrence and non-early recurrence group based on the follow-up results.The clinical,laboratory,pathological results and Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI imaging features were analyzed.RESULTS Of 161 patients,73 had early recurrence and 88 were had non-early recurrence.Univariate analysis showed that patient age,gender,serum alpha-fetoprotein level,the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage,China liver cancer(CNLC)stage,microvascular invasion(MVI),pathological satellite focus,tumor size,tumor number,tumor boundary,tumor capsule,intratumoral necrosis,portal vein tumor thrombus,large vessel invasion,nonperipheral washout,peritumoral enhancement,hepatobiliary phase(HBP)/tumor signal intensity(SI)/peritumoral SI,HBP peritumoral low signal and peritumoral delay enhancement were significantly associated with early recurrence of HCC after operation.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patient age,MVI,CNLC stage,tumor boundary and large vessel invasion were independent predictive factors.External data validation indicated that the area under the curve of the combined predictors was 0.861,suggesting that multivariate logistic regression was a reasonable predictive model for early recurrence of HCC.CONCLUSION Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI combined with clinical features would help predicting the early recurrence of HCC after operation.

Analysis of risk factors for lymphedema of the lower limbs after endometrial cancer surgery and suggestions for prevention and treatment:Retraction

In the article titled“Analysis of risk factors for lymphedema of the lower limbs after endometrial cancer surgery and suggestions for prevention and treatment”by Zhang Q and Liu L(J Integr Nurs 2021;3(2):67-71.doi:10.4103/jin.jin_13_21),[1]the content and results data of this article was questioned by International database(Web of Science)institution.This article was then investigated by the publisher and Journal of Integrative Nursing(JIN).The investigation has uncovered evidence of one or more of the following indicators of systematic manipulation of the publication process:(1)Discrepancies in scope;(2)Discrepancies in the description of the research reported;(3)Discrepancies between the availability of data and the research described;(4)Inappropriate citations;(5)Incoherent,meaningless and/or irrelevant content included in the article;(6)The ethical approval by an Institutional Review Board(IRB)committee or equivalent not provided in this article.The editorial office of JIN sent emails many times but received no replies and reasonable explanations from the authors.Therefore,this article is retracted.