ObjectiveTo summarize the progress of the researches about nano-carbon tattoo in targeted lymph node dissection of breast cancer. MethodThe relevant studies on the application of nano-carbon tattoo to target lymph nodes in the breast cancer at home and abroad were searched and the feasibility and shortcomings of this method were summarized. ResultFrom the studies reported, the nano-carbon tattoo method had a high detection rate (64.0%–100%) and coincidence rate (55.0%–100%), as well as a lower false negative rate (0.0%–9.1%) in the labeling of breast cancer targeted lymph nodes. ConclusionsThe nano-carbon tattoo method is a useful, simple, and safe in the labeling of targeted lymph nodes in breast cancer. But the specific implementation scheme of this method, such as the optimal labeling dosage, the number of labeled lymph nodes, and the improvement of patients’ quality of life are still unclear, which still needs more large-scale prospective research to verify.
ObjectiveThis study proposes employing large language models (LLMs) for medical literature quality assessment, exploring their potential to establish a standardized and scalable intelligent evaluation framework for off-label drug use (OLDU). MethodsThe study used two freely available LLMs platforms in China, DeepSeek-R1 and Doubao. Following the medical literature quality assessment tools recommended in the evidence-based evaluation specification for OLDU issued by the Guangdong Pharmaceutical Association, we selected the Jadad scale and the MINORS criteria. These tools were employed to assess the quality of the two most prevalent types of medical literature in OLDU evidence evaluation: randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials (non-RCTs). Utilizing chain-of-thought (CoT) prompting techniques, we developed standardized evaluation templates. The quality scores generated by the LLMs were then compared against those reported in systematic reviews or assigned by clinical pharmacists. ResultsFor RCT, DeepSeek-R1 demonstrated consistency with human assessments in quality appraisal. However, discrepancies exist between the Doubao model and manual evaluation results, with three repeated evaluations yielding inconsistent outcomes and inaccurate identification of "allocation concealment" items. For non-RCT, all models achieved concordant quality assessment outcomes with human evaluators, while demonstrating unique capacity to detect systematic evaluation inaccuracies attributable to human subjective bias. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that prompt engineering-driven LLMs can efficiently conduct quality assessments of medical literature. However, the selection of models requires rigorous validation against domain-specific benchmarks, alongside mandatory expert validation of scoring outputs. Our findings further reveal the necessity of refining current quality appraisal criteria through granular operational definitions, thereby facilitating standardized automation. This approach not only enhances the efficiency and transparency of evidence-based decision-making for OLDU but also extends to systematic reviews and rapid health technology assessments. By replacing traditional literature quality evaluation models with automated scoring mechanisms, it enables a paradigm shift in the efficiency of evidence processing.
Objective To find a kind of simple and effective method for purifying and label ing stromal vascular fraction cells (SVFs) so as to provide a theoretical basis for cl inical application of SVFs. Methods The subcutaneous adi pose tissue were harvested form volunteers. The adi pose tissue was digested with 0.065%, 0.125%, and 0.185% type I collagenase,respectively. SVFs were harvested after digestion and counted. After trypan blue staining, the rate of viable cells was observed. SVFs was labeled by 1, 1’-dioctadecyl-3, 3, 3’, 3’-2-tetramethy-lindocyanine perchlorate (DiI). The fluorescent label ing and growth was observed under an inverted fluorescence microscope. MTT assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Results The number of SVFs was (138.68 ± 11.64) × 104, (183.80 ± 10.16) × 104, and (293.07 ± 8.31) × 104 in 0.065% group, 0.125% group, and 0.185% group, respectively, showing significant differences among 3 groups (P lt; 0.01). The rates of viable cells were 91% ± 2%, 90% ± 2%, and 81% ± 2% in 0.065% group, 0.125% group, and 0.185% group, respectively, and it was significantly higher in 0.065% group and 0.125% group than in 0.185% group (P lt; 0.01), but no significant difference was found between 0.065% group and 0.125% group (P=0.881). Inverted fluorescence microscope showed that the cell membranes could be labeled by DiI with intact cell membrane, abundant cytoplasm, and good shape, but nucleus could not labeled. SVFs labeled by DiI could be cultured successfully and maintained a normal form. MTT assay showed that similar curves of the cell growth were observed before and after DiI labeled to SVFs. Conclusion The optimal collagenase concentration for purifying SVFs is 0.125%. DiI is a kind of ideal fluorescent dye for SVFs.
Lateral flow assay is widely used in the point-of-care testing on-site and in-home testing with the advantage of being simple, rapid, sensitive and cost-effective. Proper labels are the key factors in lateral flow assay. Traditional labels include colloidal gold, selenium nanoparticle, and carbon nanoparticle, among which the colloidal gold is most commonly used. Lateral flow assay has been improved as a result of the discovery of new labels, such as quantum dots and nanozyme recently. Meanwhile, transformation of qualitative detection to quantitative detection is gradually realized. This article aims at introducing the most often used and the latest lateral flow assay labels, providing a basis theoretical investigation on screening proper labels for lateral flow assay researchers.
Objective To assess the global situation of off-label drug use in hospitalized children. Methods The databases such as PubMed, EMbase, CBM, CNKI and VIP were searched to collect studies on off-label drug use in hospitalized children at age of 0 to 18 years old. The publication language was limited to English and Chinese. The quality assessment was based on Crombie Criteria for cross-sectional studies. The incidence of off-label drug use was described in different wards and age groups, and the proportion of different off-label used drugs was analyzed. Results The total 29 cross-sectional studies were included, involving 8 560 children and 41 655 prescriptions. a) Median (IQR) of off-label use incidence: Neonatal ICU 52.5% (23.0% to 44.8%), Pediatric ICU 43.5% (34.5% to 60%), General pediatric ward 35.5% (23.8% to 43.3%), Pediatric surgical ward 27.5% (23.0% to 44.8%); b) The results of off-label incidence in different age groups were inconsistent among different studies; and c) The off-label drug use for “no pediatric information” had the largest proportion, followed by dose and age. Conclusion a) Off-label drug use exists widely around the world, but the incidence varies a lot in different countries and different types of wards; b) The incidence of off-label drug use may be higher in ICU than in non-ICU, and higher in the neonatal ward than the pediatric ward; c) The off-label drug use for no pediatric information is the commonest type, and further clinical studies should focus on areas in which high quality evidence is totally absent; and d) The multi-center studies with unified design on off-label drug use in hospitalized children in China are urgently needed to provide evidence for policy-making.
ObjectiveTo understand the situation of off-label use of aspirin among outpatients in Sun Yatsen Memorial Hospital, so as to provide baseline data for developing off-label drug use policy. MethodsA stratified random sampling method was used to collected prescription data of aspirin among outpatients in 2013. The incidence rates between different types of off-label use of aspirin were determined by chi-square test, and the influence factors of off-label drug use were analyzed by logistic regression model. ResultsA total of 5 023 prescriptions with aspirin were collected and analyzed, with incidence rate of off-label use up to 17.7%. The major category of off-label use was no indication (94.38%). The top 3 no indications were recurrent abortion, infertility and systemic lupus erythematosus. Drug specification, gender, age and prescribed department were the risk factors of off-label use. ConclusionAspirin off-label use is common among outpatients in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital in 2013, especially in obstetrics and gynecology department and assisted reproductive center. The results suggest that more clinical studies about aspirin for reproduction are needed to provide more evidence of drug use, so as to ensure the safety of drug use in special populations and avoid potential medical risk.
Objective To introduce the evidence-based evaluation on off-label uses at home and abroad, so as to investigate a systematic method of evidence-based evaluation on off-label uses. Methods In combination with the domestic and international research literature, a systematic method of evidence-based evaluation on off-label uses was discussed from the following three aspects: sources of evidence, levels of evidence, and recommendation strength. Results Sources of evidence included Clinical Pharmacology, DRUGDEX? System, NCCN Drugs amp; Biologics Compendium and handsearched literature. Levels of evidence and recommendation strength could refer to the 2009 grade system of Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, and the strength of recommendations and scientific support of DRUGDEX? System. Conclusion A systematic method of evidence-based evaluation on off-label uses is initially established.
Objective The combined appl ication of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and confocal laser scanning microscope three-dimensional reconstruction (CLSM-3DR) were used to monitor the construction and in vivo transplantation of tissue engineered bone (TEB), to provide for technology in selection of scaffolds and three-dimensional constructional methods. Methods After bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated from a 2-year-old green goat by a combination method of density gradient centrifugation and adherent culture, and the expressions of CD29, CD60L, CD45, and CD44 in BMSCs were detected by flow cytometry. Plasmid of pLEGFP-N1 was ampl ified, digested by enzymes (Hind III, BamH I, Sal I, and Bgl II), and identified. Transfection of pLEGFP-N1 into PT67 cells was performed under the help of l iposome. Positive PT67 cells were picked out with G418, and prol iferated for harvesting virus. Based on the titre of virus, after BMSCs were infected by virus containing pLEGFP-N1, GFP positive BMSCs were collected and prol iferated for seeding cells. TEB was fabricated by GFP positive BMSCs and decalcified bone matrix (DBM) and observed by CLSM-3DR for the evaluation of the distribution and prol iferation of seeding cells. After TEB was transplanted in the defect of goat femur, CLSM was used for observing the survival and distribution of GFP positive cells in the grafts. Results The isolated cells were fibroblast-l ike morphous, with the positive expression of CD29 and CD44, and negative expression of CD60L and CD45. The digested production of pLEGFP-N1 was collected for ionophoresis, whose results showed the correct fragment length (6 900 bp). The virus of pLEGFP-N1 was harvested by transfection of pLEGFP-N1 into PT67 cells and used for further infection to obtain GFP positive BMSCs. The prol iferated GFP positive BMSCs and DBM were used for fabrication of TEB. The distribution, prol iferation, and migration of BMSCs in TEB were observed by CLSM-3DR. GFP positive cells also were observed in images of TEB graft in goat femur 28 days after transplantation. Conclusion The BMSCs labeled by GFP in three-dimensional scaffold in vivo were monitored well by CLSM-3DR. It suggests a wide use potency in monitoring of three-dimensional cultured TEB.
Objective To assess the global situation of off-label drug use in outpatient children.Methods A search was conducted in PubMed, EMbase, CBM, CNKI and VIP for collecting studies on off-label drug use in outpatient children aged 0 to 18 years, and the publication language was limited to English and Chinese. The quality assessment was based on Crombie Criteria for cross-sectional studies, and the descriptive analysis was performed to analyze the incidence of off-label drug use at all levels of medical institutes and different age groups, the common types of off-label used drugs, and the constitution ratio of off-label use drugs. Results A total of 20 cross-sectional studies were included, involving 1 933 760 children and 5 262 573 prescriptions. The results of descriptive analysis showed: a) The incidence of off-label drug use in outpatient children in primary care and tertiary care institutes were 19.5% (IQR 13.5%, 24.5%) and 26.0% (IQR 24.0%, 35.0%), respectively; b) The primary studies reported that neonate, infant and adolescent had the highest incidence of off-label drug use, while the other children had the lowest incidence; c) Drugs for respiratory system, anti-infection, sensory organs, and dermatosis were listed as the top 5 frequently used off-label drugs by more than half of the studies; d) The studies with issue of “lack of instruction for children” showed it was exactly the type with highest incidence of off-label use, while other studies without that issue showed the highest incidence was over aged off-label use. Conclusion a) Off-label drug use is common in outpatient children. The incidence of off-label drug use may be higher in tertiary care institutes than primary care institutes, and it is higher in neonate, infant and adolescent rather than other age groups of children; b) Incidence of off-label use may be higher in inpatient children than outpatient ones; c) Drugs for respiratory system, anti-infection, sensory organs, and dermatosis were most common types of off-label use; and d) Off-label use due to both “lack of instruction for children” and “over aged use” is more common. So it suggests that further studies trials should focus on fields in which clinical trials of drugs are totally absent.
A multi-label based level set model for multiple sclerosis lesion segmentation is proposed based on the shape, position and other information of lesions from magnetic resonance image. First, fuzzy c-means model is applied to extract the initial lesion region. Second, an intensity prior information term and a label fusion term are constructed using intensity information of the initial lesion region, the above two terms are integrated into a region-based level set model. The final lesion segmentation is achieved by evolving the level set contour. The experimental results show that the proposed method can accurately and robustly extract brain lesions from magnetic resonance images. The proposed method helps to reduce the work of radiologists significantly, which is useful in clinical application.